Ferrari is one of the biggest sporting passions of Italians. Tifosi fans are always very critical and always expect the best from their team. It is therefore not surprising that Mattia Binotto, who recently resigned from his role as team principal at Ferrari, has also always been under the magnifying glass of experts and fans.
The arrival of Binotto
Mattia Binotto had been chosen as Ferrari's new team principal in January 2019, being called in to replace Maurizio Arrivabene. Binotto arrived in that role after a 20-year career as a Ferrari engineer. The Scuderia came from a season without titles, but had placed second among the drivers (with Sebastian Vettel) and second among the constructors, while Arrivabene was criticised for the lack of victories but also supported for having turned Ferrari around. Does this situation remind you of anything?
At the time, the choice of Binotto was not badly received by the fans, especially as many wanted to see a change from Arrivabene's management. Several pundits also praised the decision to promote Ferrari's technical director, including former driver Gerhard Berger, who described him as 'the right man' and considered his greater closeness to the FIA than Arrivabene to be positive. Others were more sceptical, believing that a change of team principal was not enough to fix Ferrari's problems. The newspapers were very cautious, focusing mainly on explaining who Binotto was and expecting substantial continuity in management.
Difficult years
Binotto's first season ended with another second place in the constructors' championship and three wins in a row at Monza, Spa and Singapore. The team principal was optimistic, saying that the lack of competitiveness was the fault of the car's development in the previous winter and that no major changes are needed in the team. The fans, however, were already very nervous about the various wrong strategies in the season and Binotto's positive assessment of an anonymous season. For the Corriere della Sera it was a 'black year' and the fans were already very mistrustful about the promises for the following year.
The following season was even worse. Ferrari beat every negative record in their history and finished on the podium on only three occasions. A large part of the public wanted Binotto away from Ferrari, because of the handling of the Vettel issue. Many were calling for his resignation, even from the newspapers, but there were also those, like Autosport director Andrea Cordovani, who said: 'I believe that we should not touch the only "certainty" in a situation that, seen from the outside, is increasingly difficult."
The year 2021 was going better and confidence in Binotto was also at an all-time high. Above all, thanks to the new pair of driver who were more in tune with the team principal, and the words at first realistic - about third place among constructors - which greated hope and determination for the following year. The fans appreciated Binotto more.
Time for goodbyes
After the 2022 season ended with second place among constructors and Charles Leclerc among drivers, Mattia Binotto stepped down as team principal. He did so practically playing it by ear, after weeks of rumours of his possible departure at the behest of Ferrari's top management. Precisely with the top management, in particular John Elkann, it seems that there was also a lack of harmony. As also with Charles Leclerc, with whom things got worse and worse after Silverstone.
Binotto is certainly paying for the mistakes he has made this season and the controversial relationship he has had with his two top drivers, Vettel and Leclerc. But in the opinion of many he is also paying for the fact that he has been very effective in getting Ferrari out of a very difficult situation while at the same time not being able to make the leap to take it higher than that. Many fans are happy about this change, but many also fear a 2023 characterised by instability and are not enthusiastic about the possible alternatives. Many defend Binotto, arguing that he is not Ferrari's problem, and that ousting him will solve little or nothing. Like four years ago.
Mattia Binotto has never entered the hearts of Ferrari fans, and he has never garnered praise from the experts. He is, however, credited with having done the job when it was needed, and with having protected the team in difficult times. And he leaves Ferrari with the doubt that has accompanied him for the last four years: being a good engineer may not necessarily mean being a good leader.