Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko is convinced that Ferrari are set to become weaker as a result of yet another change of team principal, with Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur set to take the poisoned chalice in January.
The team principal merry-go-round continues at Maranello, with the Italians appearing incapable of “stability and continuity”, with the outfit having lost a pivotal part of their team.
Mattia Binotto announced his resignation from Ferrari following the season finale, with the Italian having faced criticism for the vast majority of the year; he also isn’t trusted in by Ferrari chairman John Elkann.
By losing Binotto, Ferrari are losing both an improving team principal and a loyal member of the Scuderia family, with the Italian having worked for the team since 1995.
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The side appear to be preferring a route of ‘win no matter the cost’, with that ‘cost’ appearing to be team principals.
When you compare that to Red Bull and Mercedes, who have had the same leader for many years, it is clear that as it stands Ferrari’s strategy isn’t working.
Marko sees the sacking of Binotto as an advantage for his side and Mercedes, with the Austrian not understanding why Ferrari have forced an “excellent technician and politician” out the door.
“Definitely. Through stability and continuity,” Marko told Auto Motor und Sport.
“In the case of Ferrari, I don’t quite understand the change,” Marko said.
“I consider Binotto to be an excellent technician and politician.
“He was simply overwhelmed by the task. But it would have been enough to put a sporting director at his side to support him at the track and with the strategy.
“With the new man, who has many other jobs, I see a weakening for Ferrari.”
With that in mind, Red Bull appear to be focusing on Mercedes rather than Ferrari for 2023, with Marko in particular expecting a comeback from the Germans.
Interestingly, Marko picked out seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton as a “very special driver”, with the combo of Mercedes and Hamilton being a “stronger package than Ferrari”.
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“As we said at the beginning, they are the more stable team,” he said.
“And they have Hamilton. Even though it may have gone down this year. He’s a very special driver.
“In between, he’s shown time and again with his lap times that he’s a top man. It’s simply a much stronger package than Ferrari.”