Since Ferrari announced that they had accepted the resignation of team principal Mattia Binotto earlier this month, many names had been linked to filling the vacant position at the Scuderia.
Christian Horner, Ross Brawn and Andreas Seidl were all reportedly on Ferrari’s radar, with chairman John Elkann reportedly favouring a high-profile appointment to replace Binotto.
With Horner loyal to Red Bull, Brawn retiring and Seidl taking up a role with Sauber, Ferrari have chosen to appoint current Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur as their successor for Mattia Binotto.
The Frenchman has been with Sauber since 2017, meaning that Ferrari will be getting a proven and experienced team principal, who was many fans’ preferred choice for the role as soon as Binotto’s resignation was announced.
READ: ‘It’s not a good enough job’: Lando Norris criticises McLaren
The founder of Sauber, Peter Sauber, has given his team principal his blessing ahead of his imminent move to Ferrari, but has given Vasseur a parting warning about Ferrari’s reputation.
“If you get an offer from Ferrari, you have to go,” claimed Sauber.
“But if you know the history of Ferrari- back to the company founder Enzo – then you know that the team bosses usually have a short life. With the exception of Jean Todt, who ruled there for more than 12 years.”
Mattia Binotto’s reign at Ferrari lasted three years, meaning that still only three team principals out of 22 have lasted longer than the Swiss since Ferrari joined Formula 1.
READ: Toto Wolff denies Mercedes took a ‘stupid pill’
Charles Leclerc will be pleased to see the announcement of Vasseur as Ferrari’s new boss, as the pair shared a strong relationship during their time together at Sauber, during Leclerc’s rookie years in F1.
With Ferrari struggling to compete with the consistency of Red Bull in 2022, the team will be hoping that an internal restructure will be able to play a key part in allowing the team to mount a more meaningful title charge in 2023.
Mercedes were massively off the pace for the majority of 2022, while Red Bull will spend next season battling with their cost cap breach penalty, meaning that they might be no better time for Vasseur to bring his new regime to the Scuderia.