Leclerc not involved in Binotto sacking: 'He's not of that calibre'

Mattia Binotto will no longer be Ferrari's team principal from 2023. According to the renowned and in Italy highly respected journalist Leo Turrini, it is not surprising that Ferrari made this choice. In his eyes, Binotto was the ideal scapegoat.

It was a tumultuous week for major two Italian sports teams. Not only did the news come out that Binotto will no longer be at the helm of Ferrari's F1 team from 2023, but a day later, it was also announced that Andrea Agnelli and his cohorts (including former Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene), were stepping down as board members of football team Juventus. Speaking on Italian radio show Tutti Convocati, Turrini said, "Andrea Agnelli would have been perfect." But in a very short time, the idea of Agnelli replacing Binotto was off the table.

Binotto and Elkann like water and fire

That Binotto was sacked is not surprising, according to Turrini. In fact, the Italian knows that things did not quite work out between the team boss and the president of the car manufacturer. Turrini: "Mattia and John Elkann are like water and oil, chemically incompatible. If the chairman's trust in the manager no longer exists, it is logical that this decision is taken." The journalist does think the decision has come too late, as the car for 2023 is almost completely ready if all went well.

Leclerc has nothing to do with it

Turrini also addresses on the radio a rumour that Charles Leclerc and his management contributed to the team boss' dismissal. It emerged in the corridors that Leclerc and Binotto had been out of contact for months. According to Turrini, there is no truth to the rumour that Leclerc has worked the team boss out. Turrini: "With all his strengths and weaknesses, Binotto was just the perfect scapegoat. There are no excuses."

Incidentally, the journalist does not even think Leclerc has a status of such a nature that he could work Binotto out of the team: "We must not forget that Leclerc, my idol, has only won five GPs. It is not Alonso who had two titles or Schumacher who also arrived at Ferrari as a two-time champion. It is precisely Ferrari's absolutely inadequate management that is the regular story at the brand."