Ferrari’s 2022 season fizzled out much earlier than the team would have hoped, as reliability issues and strategy errors saw them quickly fall away from eventual double winners Red Bull in the title race.
Charles Leclerc was reportedly not on speaking terms with team principal going into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after a serious of poor calls by the team had seen his chances of a maiden championship win disintegrate over the course of the season.
With the fans unimpressed and the star driver dishing out the silent treatment, the writing was on the wall for Binotto, who after weeks of speculation resigned from his role with the Scuderia.
It has now been announced that current Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur will replace the Swiss at the turn of the calendar year, ditching the exciting Audi project at Sauber for a fresh start with the Italian giants.
READ: Frederic Vasseur reacts to replacing Mattia Binotto at Ferrari
While Vasseur’s appointment comes as a shrewd piece of business for Ferrari, who will have a very talented and knowledgeable team principal at the helm in 2023, reports have suggested that the Frenchman was not the Scuderia’s first choice.
It is suggested that Ferrari chairman John Elkann was on hunt for a more high-profile acquisition to replace Binotto, before settling for the more than capable Vasseur, with multiple names being linked.
Christian Horner of Red Bull has recently spoken to the press and claimed that while he was flattered by the links to Ferrari, his long-term involvement with the current constructors’ champions means that he has an attachment to the team that his is not willing to end.
READ: Pierre Gasly makes ‘massively overweight’ claim
Andreas Seidl reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Ferrari in favour of taking up a different role with Sauber, with the McLaren team principal set to join Sauber as their new chief executive officer.
Finally, former team owner Ross Brawn was linked to the role, but rejected the chance to return to the paddock after leaving his role as technical director of the Formula One Group.
Vasseur’s appointment will come as music to the ears of Charles Leclerc, who will be reunited with his former boss, having worked with the Frenchman during his rookie years with Sauber.