With the recent shift in key positions of various teams, Toto Wolff has dismissed any suggestions indicating an entry of Mattia Binotto on the Mercedes side.
After a disappointing 2022 season, Mattia Binotto stepped down from his role as the team principal of the Ferrari team. This led to a number of speculations about the experienced engineer’s future. There are many teams who can surely use these skills of Binotto.
However, Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that Mattia Binotto is not coming to Mercedes anytime soon.
“I think there was too much porcelain broken between us the last two years that this would be possible,”
Wolff said in a podcast.
“With the other teams, I can’t say,” he admits. “Certainly, Mattia understands Formula 1 inside out, and yeah, maybe he finds a role in another team.”
Wolff admitted that the duo had their share of moments. However, clarified that it was all in past unlike the ongoing rivalry with his red bull counterpart Christian Horner.
“We were in a much better place,” says the Austrian. “But it was always clear that he was under tremendous pressure. Being a team principal at Ferrari, you better have a good contract for your exit. Now, probably the unavoidable happened, but he held onto it longer than I thought.”
Christian Horner calls the Ferrari move “obvious”
Binotto stepping down from his position was somewhat an expected move. The rumors were spreading ever since the last race in Abu Dhabi. Further, the performance of the Ferrari team throughout the season didn’t help Binotto either.
Similarly, Horner wasn’t surprised by the news:
“It’s obviously Ferrari’s choice,”
he told Sky Sports.
“I think it will be the sixth team principal there I’ve sat opposite since I’ve been at Red Bull.”
“It’s obviously difficult for him,”
he added.
“They had a great car this year, they were certainly very competitive.”
Horner was then asked if he would be interested in the role as the Ferrari boss – the position which is often referred to as the poisoned chalice. To this, the Briton replied:
“My commitment is very much with the Red Bull team. I’ve been there since the beginning and we obviously have a very close attachment.”
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