[imagesource: Guy Percival / CC0 Public Domain]

In news just breaking this morning, Mattia Binotto has resigned as Ferrari team principal.

After a strong start to the 2022 season, where it looked like they might finally be in with a shot at the world championship, Ferrari failed to win any of the final 11 races.

Second place in the Constructor Standings wasn’t good enough and the axe has fallen, with Ferrari releasing an official statement a short while ago.

More via Motorsport:

The team said Binotto would stay on board until December 31, and it hoped to have a replacement for him finalised in the new year.

Binotto said that he regretted having to leave the team, but felt that it was the best thing for the Maranello outfit.

“With the regret that this entails, I have decided to conclude my collaboration with Ferrari,” he said.

“I am leaving a company that I love, which I have been part of for 28 years, with the serenity that comes from the conviction that I have made every effort to achieve the objectives set.

Rumours about Binotto’s future surfaced ahead of the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi.

Alfa Romeo team boss Fred Vasseur has been put forward as a possible replacement. In the weeks leading up to today’s statement, Ferrari has shut down speculation on that front.

BREAKING: Mattia Binotto will leave his position as Ferrari team principal at the end of 2022#F1 pic.twitter.com/wVzdS12IcG

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2022

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna thanked Binotto for his years of service:

“I would like to thank Mattia for his many great contributions over 28 years with Ferrari and particularly for leading the team back to a position of competitiveness during this past year,” he said.

“As a result, we are in a strong position to renew our challenge, above all for our amazing fans around the world, to win the ultimate prize in motorsport. Everyone here at the Scuderia and in the wider Ferrari community wishes Mattia well for the future.”

I would expect a similarly heartfelt message from Charles Leclerc:

mattia loved charles like a son but he just wasn’t fit to be a team principal

grazie mille, mattia binotto. pic.twitter.com/vrjBcgZOML

— ash 🧸 (@lovesferrari) November 29, 2022

To some, the announcement will come as a shock.

To others, given how Ferrari tailed off so poorly in the latter half of the season, this has been a ticking time bomb.

Yesterday, RacingNews365 published an article headlined ‘Binotto’s Ferrari Exit: The Full Backstory’ so they must have had an inkling:

The net effect is a statement can be expected, potentially today (Monday) but more likely Tuesday after final details are thrashed out – with a six-month block of gardening leave likely to follow – while Ferrari seeks a replacement for the man who delivered every target set for him this season.

In the interim, Vigna, said to have constantly meddled with strategies despite attending but five Grands Prix this year, acts as team boss…

At least this should make for some good drama off the track for the upcoming series of Drive to Survive.

[sources:motorsport&racingnews365]