Binotto: Was Vettel’s departure justified by post-coronavirus savings?

Hot topic of the season’s start, Mattia Binotto spoke this Friday about the reasons for Sebastian Vettel’s departure from Scuderia Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season, which has just begun.

In his place this Thursday at the press conference, the German driver made an explosive confession: Scuderia Ferrari did not offer him a contract extension, even though Mattia Binotto had indicated in mid-March that discussions were ongoing.

Faced with the accomplished fact, the Italian engineer therefore delivered his version of events to the few journalists present at the Red Bull Ring.

Mattia Binotto detailed his reasoning in two stages. First of all, by talking about the time before the lockdown, that is, before March and the supposed start of the season. In private as well as in public, we have always said that he (editor’s note: Vettel) was our first choice, which I confirmed explained the team principal of Scuderia Ferrari.

While admitting that other contacts have been made, without being more specific: « it’s normal for several drivers to ask us during the winter if there was an opportunity to drive for Ferrari. We were contacted but it didn’t change our position. Seb was our first choice, hammered Mattia Binotto this Friday.

Binotto (before the lockdown): « in private as well as in public, we have always said that he (editor’s note: Vettel) was our first choice, which I confirmed ».

But a turning point occurred with the arrival of the coronavirus epidemic and the lockdown imposed in almost all countries around mid-March: what happened next with the virus and the pandemic changed the entire world, not just motorsports or Formula 1.

The budget cap has changed, becoming stricter, and the new regulation has been postponed from 2021 to 2022, which is important for us. The development of cars is almost frozen for 2020 and 2021. So the entire situation has changed, even though the season hasn’t even started, explains Mattia Binotto.

Hence this argument, according to him: « there was no opportunity for Seb (editor’s note: Vettel), to prove how motivated he was to drive for Ferrari, which is unfortunate for him. »

During the lockdown, we had to consider our position. We made a decision, and it was our responsibility to communicate it to him. As a reminder, it was on May 12th that the bombshell was dropped, with the announcement of Vettel’s departure, not renewed at the end of his contract, end of 2020.

Binotto (after the lockdown): « the budget limit has changed, it has become more strict, and the new regulation has been postponed from 2021 to 2022. (…) »

« There was therefore no opportunity for Seb to prove how motivated he was to drive for Ferrari, which is unfortunate for him. »

Alongside Binotto’s statements, McLaren team principal Zak Brown also emphasized that the discussions between Ferrari and Sainz had indeed started during the winter, before the lockdown. For his part, Sebastian Vettel said yesterday that the announcement of his departure was “a surprise” for him.

« I heard that he was surprised. I understand that. It’s almost normal to be surprised. I think today he is not entirely happy with it, which is obvious » also noted Mattia Binotto this Friday at the press conference.

If the coronavirus epidemic does not cancel new races, Sebastian Vettel has at least 8 Grand Prix left with Ferrari before giving up his seat to Carlos Sainz, who is coming from McLaren.