Aston Martin is looking at adding to their technical team as Mattia Binotto could make an F1 comeback in the near future.
Following Binotto’s departure from Scuderia Ferrari at the end of 2022 after almost three decades with the team as he felt he no longer had the support required to continue as team principal, the Italian is exploring avenues to return to the sport.
He was part of Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary success during the early 2000s when the German legend won five straight Drivers’ Championships, with Ferrari claiming six in a row on the Constructors’ side.
Binotto worked in the engine department to make sure it was reliable and delivered excellent performance each and every race weekend. He continued working on the engine side until 2016, when he was appointed Chief Technical Officer for the Scuderia.
In 2017 and 2018, Ferrari pushed Mercedes hard for most of both seasons, particularly in the Drivers’ Championship with Sebastian Vettel against Lewis Hamilton.
A power struggle eventually saw Binotto get the top job ahead of the 2019 season, replacing Maurizio Arrivabene as team boss.
He only lasted four seasons, however. 2020 and 2021 saw Ferrari fail to win a single race. But his days became numbered because of the events of 2022.
Numerous bad strategies, unreliability, a poor car development path and not prioritising Charles Leclerc when he was faster than Carlos Sainz in the opening half of the season contributed to a sour end to a year that had started so strongly with a 1-2 in Bahrain, as well as the Monegasque driver’s dominant display in Melbourne.
When Otmar Szfnauer left Alpine following the Belgian Grand Prix last July, Binotto was tipped to replace him. That did not materialise, however. Not joining the Enstone-based team seems like a good decision on the basis of their 2024 difficulties.
It’s believed Binotto spoke to Lawrence Stroll at Imola when he visited the F1 paddock last month, and it was a miserable weekend for Aston as a P9 from Lance Stroll was the best they could do following a big update.
Speaking in a written media session following the Canadian Grand Prix, Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack was asked if the team is looking to recruit at the highest point of the technical team, explaining that Aston Martin is a place many people are interested in going to.
“I mean, there is a lot to read about senior technical [people] and also recruitment.
“I think it shows basically one thing, how attractive this place is.
“I think, again, with Honda coming, with Aramco, with the regulations how they are in ’26, the names that are at play, if we are attractive to them, that is a good thing, because it shows that everybody believes that this project can be a huge success.”
Pushed on whether they are attractive to him and the team, as well as if Aston Martin are currently looking to bring some big names on board, Krack was clear about it.
“Of course.
“I mean, if Ronaldo was available last year, then people would have bought him as well.
“If there is good people available, you always have to be open and see how you can integrate them.”
Aston has had a disappointing start to 2024. They sit P5 in the Constructors’ Championship, 66 points behind Mercedes.
Their big Imola update failed to move them forward as the team has struggled to fully understand the AMR24 so far. Both drivers have spoken about how tricky it is to drive, with balance limitations holding them back.
It seems changes are in the offing as Lawrence Stroll wants to see success for his big investment in the Silverstone-based team.
