After having a disappointing 2022 season, Ferrari. tried to keep what worked and rejigged the puzzle to ensure next year is finally the year the Tifosi keep pinned for. Step number 1 in that direction was orchestrated by the Scuderia shortly after the 2022 Abu Dhabi GP. Even though its incumbent team principal, Mattia Binotto, had a contract running up to the end of 2023, the team parted ways with the Italian engineer. However, as it would appear, there was still one thing to attend to before the team from Maranello could completely shut its doors on the Binotto era.

It has been reported that Binotto’s Ferrari contract ran until the end of 2023. As such, he would’ve played a massive part in Ferrari’s 2023 challenger. It’s no secret that Ferrari is very hopeful about their chances this coming season. And true to that, they do not want anything that can jeopardize or compromise their position before their rivals.

Mattia Binotto’s paid vacation courtesy of the Scuderia

Formu1a.uno has reported that “The Italian-Swiss engineer warmly greeted the team on December 20 by touring the various departments, to officially enter the gardening period which, according to what transpires, would have been established in 12 months, therefore until the end of the contract binding Binotto at Ferrari.”

“Rather important gardening, accepted by the technician also thanks to extra compensation that the Scuderia will disburse in these 12 months to prevent its former TP from ending up elsewhere: teams, FIA or Liberty Media.”

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Even though the Scuderia are willing to sacrifice a reportedly significant payload to Binotto, his eventual sacking and the way they handled it is something they’ve been getting a lot of stick about.

Ferrari accused of making Mattia Binotto a scapegoat

Mattia Binotto had arguably been instrumental in turning the fortunes of the Scuderia around. That being said, the Ferrari team principal hot seat is a pretty contentious one in F1. Ex-F1 driver Christijan Albers feels that the Italian was hard done by the team that owed him so much.

He told De Telegraaf, “Okay, officially he quit himself, but everyone knows how it works. I feel that a scapegoat was sought and someone’s head had to be taken off. Then you quickly end up with the team boss. Still, Binotto has been instrumental in making Ferrari competitive again. Everyone forgets how bad that team was roughly a year ago.”

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Was Ferrari right in letting Binotto go for Vasseur, or has the team jumped the gun?