Ferrari Legend Gives Blunt Response To Taking Fred Vasseur’s Chair As Binotto Replacement

After four years of being in charge of the Italian F1 giant Scuderia Ferrari, Mattia Binotto failed to deliver what he promised, a championship. Leaving aside the first three years, the 2022 F1 season was expected to be an instrumental season for the team as well as for Mattia Binotto. However, things didn’t turn out positive for either of them and, as a result, the Maranello-based team sent Binotto out and replaced him with Fred Vasseur. However, there could have been another candidate for the role, and he is none other than former F1 driver and race winner for the Reds, Gerhard Berger. But was he ready for the job? He reveals.

Talking to Auto Motor Und Sport, Berger revealed his take if he was ready for the job if the opportunity came. When asked if he would have stepped up to be the successor of Mattia Binotto at Ferrari, he said, “No, I wouldn’t have accepted.”

The Austrian further shared, “As I have already explained, I am prioritizing my life plan. I am 63 years old and I realize that I am no longer as energetic as I was a few years ago.” Berger’s connection with Ferrari had been between two stints. From 1987 to 1989 and then from 1993 to 1995.

READ MORE: “No One Knows”: Ferrari Posed With Daunting Question After Kicking Mattia Binotto to the Curb

Gerhard Berger has been one of the most iconic F1 drivers to ever take the wheel of a Ferrari. He famously drove beside Ayrton Senna and helped McLaren pick up the 1990 and 1991 constructors’ championships. In his career that spanned over a decade, the  now 63-year-old raced 210 times.

Former Ferrari executive knows when Mattia Binotto’s days at Ferrari were over

As Ferrari parted ways with the Italian after almost 30 years of association, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa had a few words to say. But as it all happened, one man wasn’t surprised. And he is none other than Peter Windsor. As a former Ferrari executive, he knew when it was time for Binotto’s farewell.

Talking about this, Windsor shared on his official Twitch channel, “I think it all came to a head when Charles inexplicably was left out to dry in the closing stages after the restart at the British Grand Prix. He [was] the only one on old tires and he just got swamped. He should have won that race.”

“And, obviously livid, he was having a go at everybody – particularly Mattia, I guess – on the radio on the in-lap and when he got out of the car in parc ferme, Binotto did this finger movement to Charles Leclerc like, ‘don’t you speak like that, I’m the boss here.’

“That’s not right. And at that moment, I have to say, I thought, ‘well, this guy’s days are numbered’ because there’s no way against a force like the energy that is Charles Leclerc, and how good he is ultimately, you don’t wag your finger and say, ‘don’t talk like that’ particularly if Leclerc has been hung out to dry.” he concluded.

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With bad strategic calls, Ferrari threw away wins, and failed to pick up points that were theirs. As a result, Mattia Binotto, who was the head, had to end his stint at the team. However, there is a new sheriff in town now. But do you think Vasseur can do what Binotto couldn’t?