Officially, the crisis-ridden Scuderia Ferrari is still looking for a successor to ex-team boss Mattia Binotto in Formula 1. Recently, the traditional Italian racing team had to accept several cancellations, but now a new strong man seems to have been found.
The Ferrari Formula 1 team is said to have chosen Frédéric Vasseur as the successor to the retired team boss Mattio Binotto. This reports Sport1. The 54-year-old currently holds the same position at competitor Alfa Romeo, where the Frenchman started in mid-2017. The announcement of the change to Scuderia should be made later this year.
At Alfa Romeo, Vasseur would probably have been replaced anyway from 2026, when Audi joined the former Sauber team. The German automobile manufacturer wants to rely on its own resources. At Ferrari, on the other hand, he is now reportedly given a chance that also involves some risk. Because the Italians are expecting the next World Cup title. To do this, however, the 54-year-old motorsport manager must first correct the numerous mistakes that Ferrari made last season.
As Sport1 continues, Vasseur could face a delicate mission because Nicholas Todt - the manager of Ferrari star Charles Leclerc - is in a clinch with the French due to various events in the past. Either way, Ferrari would have finally found a new strategic leader in Vasseur, should the rumors prove true.
The TV station had previously reported that Andreas Seidl had rejected the position at Ferrari. The German motorsport engineer works in Formula 1 as McLaren's team boss. The 46-year-old does not seem to be planning a move to the competition. Seidl wasn't the only candidate who wasn't drawn to Ferrari. Christian Horner recently emphasized his connection to Red Bull and made it clear that the Scuderia is not an option for him either. According to the Portal F1 insider, Franz Tost from Alpha Tauri has also canceled the Italian team.
In addition to Vasseur, Monisha Kaltenborn was another possible Binotto successor. From 2012, the 51-year-old was the first woman in Formula 1 to work as a team boss. She worked in this position at the former Sauber team until 2017. Kaltenborn could hardly have calculated any chances anyway. As F1 insider claims to have learned, those responsible in Maranello "were not yet ready to entrust the 'sacred cow' of the sports car brand to a woman". Instead, Vasseur should now judge it.
Ferrari and Binotto had separated after the season finale in Formula 1. Overall, the 53-year-old worked in various functions at Scuderia for over 28 years. Binotto has held the post of team boss since 2019. But Ferrari was not able to win the long-awaited world title in Formula 1 during this time. In 2022, the Italian team was able to improve compared to the previous year, but several tactical mistakes deprived Ferrari of a better yield. In the end, the racing team secured second place behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship. Leclerc became vice world champion behind Max Verstappen.
