Mattia Binotto to Alpine, with engineers from Ferrari?
In recent days, Mattia Binotto has been at the center of rumors. The Italian is rumored to be taking on the role of team principal at Alpine, after the French team wiped out its management team during the Belgian Grand Prix. He might even bring some Ferrari personnel with him.
Rumors have been rampant since Alpine made significant changes to its management team. Lately, the name of Mattia Binotto has been consistently mentioned as a top priority for Luca de Meo, the head of the Renault group, to become the new team director.
The Italian has been free since his resignation from Ferrari in November last year, after 28 years with the Scuderia, and could be part of the major changes planned to put the tricolor team back on track.
Also, Motorsport.com Italy reveals that the 53-year-old man could arrive accompanied by elements from Ferrari, including engine engineers.
Binotto to rebuild?
Fourth in the constructors’ championship last year, Alpine is having a tumultuous season. On the track, the A523 cars are not performing as expected. Only one podium finish (Esteban Ocon in Monaco) this season for the French team, who currently sits in sixth place in the constructors’ standings, already trailing McLaren in the race for the top 5 (+46 points for the British team).
Outside the race circuits, it’s not any happier as during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane [have been dismissed](/f1/actualite/31230-otmar-szafnauer-est-renvoye-chez-alpine.html) by the Viry-Châtillon team. Earlier in the month of July, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi had suffered the same fate.
