Binotto: "I thought I was no longer in a position to do my job well"

Mattia Binotto replaced Maurizio Arrivabene as Ferrari team principal in the offseason after the Scuderia once again failed to seriously mount a title challenge but the Swiss-Italian has revealed how he was close to leaving the team after another disappointing season.

Binotto was linked with a move to Mercedes but remained with the Italian team after Maurizio Arrivabene left and has since stepped up to the role of team boss. It was reported that tensions between Binotto and his former Arrivabene were high and Binotto reflects on how this almost forced him out of his role.

"I thought I was no longer in a position to do my job well," he told the Italian daily Corriere della Serra.

"This was not only a problem for me, but it also concerned the rest of the team.”

Many felt Binotto was responsible for the team's poor performances and he did not shy away from this: “If a technical director cannot perform his work at his best, it will have problems for everyone on the team."

Despite being linked with Mercedes Binotto has only ever had eyes for Ferrari.

“I've been a huge Ferrari fan since I was a little kid.

“I've never thought of another team except Ferrari,” he added.