Why Ferrari F1 Team Principal Mattia Binotto Resigned

• On Tuesday, Ferrari announced the resignation of F1 team principal Mattia Binotto, effective December 31.

• Binotto, promoted to the role of team principal for the 2019 season, had worked at Ferrari since 1995, including spells leading the engine department, and as its chief technical officer.

• While Ferrari did return to a competitive landscape in 2022—it finished a distant second to Red Bull in the F1 Constructors' Championship—it was out-developed by Red Bull, suffered crucial reliability issues, and made strategic blunders.

Formula 1 is often described as a traveling circus and once again Scuderia Ferrari has placed itself in the center of the drama.

On Tuesday, nine days after the final race of a grueling 2022 season, Ferrari announced the resignation of team principal Mattia Binotto, effective December 31.

It comes following several weeks of rumors over the future of Binotto.

Reports emerged in Italian and French media in mid-November that Ferrari was seeking to remove Binotto from his role. Ferrari issued a statement in which it said the reports were "without foundation," while Binotto asserted that he had the full support of Ferrari chairman John Elkann.

Binotto outlined in Abu Dhabi that Ferrari had met its 2022 goals of returning to a competitive position after a two-year slump, but comments made by CEO Benedetto Vigna suggested he was less happy over Ferrari’s results.

Binotto always had strong backing from previous CEO Louis Camilleri, but Camilleri stepped down in late 2020, citing health reasons. Vigna was appointed CEO in mid-2021.

Binotto, promoted to the role of team principal for the 2019 season, had worked at Ferrari since 1995, including spells leading the engine department, and as its chief technical officer.

Ferrari has always had a complex political structure, and Binotto regularly shielded his team from criticism, installing a no-blame culture after years of risk-averse approaches within the organization. While Ferrari did return to a competitive landscape in 2022—it finished a distant second to Red Bull in the F1 Constructors' Championship—it was out-developed by Red Bull, suffered crucial reliability issues, and made strategic blunders that reflected badly on the team. It took 12 poles, though converted them into only four wins, and did not win after the summer recess.

Now, after only four years in the top job, Binotto will be packing his desk and departing when 2022 turns into 2023.

“With the regret that this entails, I have decided to conclude my collaboration with Ferrari,” said Binotto, who effectively jumped before he was pushed. “I am leaving a company that I love, which I have been part of for 28 years, with the serenity that comes from the conviction that I have made every effort to achieve the objectives set.

“I leave a united and growing team. A strong team, ready, I’m sure, to achieve the highest goals, to which I wish all the best for the future.

“I think it is right to take this step at this time as hard as this decision has been for me. I would like to thank all the people at the Gestione Sportiva who have shared this journey with me, made up of difficulties but also of great satisfaction.”

Ferrari has not yet named a successor to Binotto and is not expected to do so until the New Year. It is understood that the position was offered to several prominent figures in the paddock, but Ferrari’s advances were firmly rejected.

“I would like to thank Mattia for his many great contributions over 28 years with Ferrari and particularly for leading the team back to a position of competitiveness during this past year,” said Vigna.

“As a result, we are in a strong position to renew our challenge, above all for our amazing fans around the world, to win the ultimate prize in motorsport. Everyone here at the Scuderia and in the wider Ferrari community wishes Mattia well for the future.”