Vettel contract termination heavy on Binotto: 'Hardest conversation ever'

When Mattia Binotto took the helm at Ferrari in 2019, Sebastian Vettel was still in his team. The following year, the 'new' team boss had to terminate the German four-time world champion's contract. The conversation they had fell heavily on Binotto.

Contract termination Vettel toughest call for Binotto

The Italian told this to AS-web.jp. Binotto will no longer be part of Ferrari from 2023 and reflects on his long career at the sporting branch of the luxury Italian car brand. Binotto started at Scuderia Ferrari in 1995 and in 20 years worked his way up to become one of the F1 team's leaders. Thinking back to the last few years as F1 team boss, the Italian recalls working with Vettel, who is also out of F1 in 2023.

Binotto: "Sebastian is a great driver. I don't think he will say so himself, but what he has done is impressive, magical, phenomenal. We were lucky to have him driving with our team and it has been an important six years. All Ferrari fans still love Sebastian." Not only all the fans, but also all the Scuderia's staff still love the four-time world champion. Still, there was no place for the German at the team after 2020.

"It was very difficult for me to have to tell him in a certain way that we were not going to renew his contract. It's maybe the hardest thing I've had to do in my career. I love working with like-minded people, but it's always hard when it comes to an end." As difficult as the Italian found it, it was an important moment. Binotto says it made him stronger, but that he will always see the conversation as the hardest thing he had to do.

Vettel's ambition unachievable by Ferrari

After his successful career start with four titles at Red Bull Racing, Vettel has not been able to do it again at Ferrari. The German counts that very much on himself. Binotto nuances the picture Vettel paints and says Ferrari had its share of failure in Vettel's mission to bring the world championship back to the team in those six years at Ferrari.

Binotto: "He was very ambitious when he joined Ferrari and his goal was to win the title with the team. That was also our dream and our goal with him. He failed in that, but so did we as a team. He came close though. In 2017 and 2018, he was the closest. There were chances, but we didn't take those chances. So if the ultimate goal is to take the title, we have failed when we didn't succeed."