Formula 1 News: Mattia Binotto Linked with Aston Martin Return in Technical Role
According to a recent report published by Motorsport Total, Mattia Binotto, the former Ferrari Team Principal, is in discussions with Aston Martin to join the team in a new technical position. This potential move would mark Binotto’s return to the Formula 1 fraternity after his resignation from Ferrari in November 2022.
Binotto, who had been an integral part of Ferrari since 1995, played a pivotal role in the team’s success during the Michael Schumacher era, securing five consecutive titles between 2000 and 2004. He then progressed to lead the engine department and later became the Chief Technical Officer in 2016, before taking the reins as Team Principal in 2019.
“All in all, a difficult weekend, obviously, you learn a lot from the difficulties, so that’s what we try to do, but tough one.”
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin driver
However, Binotto’s tenure as Team Principal was marked by Ferrari’s worst season since 1980, with a sixth-place finish in 2021. Despite a strong start to the 2022 season, Ferrari ultimately finished 205 points behind Red Bull. Binotto subsequently stepped down from his role, and Ferrari has since recovered under the guidance of Frederic Vasseur, winning two of the opening eight races in the current season.
The report suggests that Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is dissatisfied with the team’s sluggish start to the season and is looking to bolster its technical ranks. Aston Martin, which began the previous campaign as a consistent podium scorer, regressed throughout the season and eventually finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. The team has struggled to replicate its form this season, with only two points from the past two races.
Stroll Sr has ambitious plans to transform Aston Martin into title contenders and has invested heavily in the team’s infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art headquarters at Silverstone. He has also recruited high-profile engineers, such as ex-Red Bull designer Dan Fallows, and could now be targeting Binotto to join the team.
According to the report, Aston Martin has proposed that Binotto takes on the role of Chief Technical Officer, overseeing the technical department while Fallows continues to design the cars. Binotto’s responsibilities would include setting up the technical structures, and he would work closely with Aston Martin Performance Technologies’ Martin Whitmarsh on the “big picture.”
This potential move would be a significant development in the Formula 1 calendar, with Aston Martin looking to revamp its technical department in a bid to challenge the top teams. As the Formula 1 news continues to unfold, fans will be keeping a close eye on Binotto’s next move and how it could impact the competitive landscape of the sport.
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