Aston Martin’s results in the last two races have worsened a situation that was already worrying at the beginning of the season. The car doesn’t quite work, the improvements, far from contributing, seem like a step backwards and Fernando Alonso becomes desperate.
A bad moment that Lawrence Stroll wants to end in one fell swoop. The owner of the team is determined to hit the table with the signing of a former Ferrari driver. This is what they say from Italy, where they consider the plans to fire Mike Krack, team boss, and put the former Ferrari driver, Mattia Binotto, in his place. All with the aim of taking Fernando Alonso to the top of the table.
The last race as team principal was the Abu Dhabi GP at the end of November 2022. Afterwards, Mattia Binotto’s journey with Ferrari came to an abrupt end after twenty-seven years. The former technical director who had started as Michael Schumacher’s engine engineer decided to slam the door.
But the Italian-Swiss engineer has never completely disappeared from the F1 radar and seems ready to embark on a new challenge. Market rumors have linked it many times with Audi, which will make its official entry into Grand Prix starting in 2026, completing the acquisition of one hundred percent of Sauber’s shares. Fresh rumors about an offer from Alpine emerged last summer, when Otmar Szafnauer was replaced on an interim basis by Bruno Famin. But Binotto took his time, a good choice judging by the current situation of the French team, waiting for better opportunities. And, according to Gazzetta dello sport, that moment finally seems to have arrived.
An appointment in Imola
During the Imola GP, the former Ferrari director was present in the paddock and met up with old acquaintances. But, according to the aforementioned media, where he spent the most time was in the Aston Martin area and there he had a long meeting with Lawrence Stroll.
A meeting that those around the team point out was not coincidental. The Canadian tycoon would have – according to these sources – a specific interest in having Binotto as director of his team, currently led by Mike Krack, former BMW manager.
Stroll’s ambitions are well known, and he has invested heavily to provide the team with a new headquarters in Silverstone with a wind tunnel and simulator. The goal is to lead Aston Martin to victory in F1 and to do so he even tried to steal Adrian Newey from Red Bull with an offer of one hundred million dollars for four years but was unsuccessful. The magician will finally end up at Ferrari alongside Lewis Hamilton.
The hiring of Binotto could be beneficial for the growth of the team, which this year took a step back after the brilliant start to 2023, when the work of technical director Dan Fallows, Newey’s Dolphin arrived from Red Bull, was praised.
However, some areas need improvement and Binotto’s skills, at a technical and managerial level, would help in this development process. The regulation revolution of 2026, which will see Aston Martin join the giant Honda in the supply of power units, could also be key in its landing.
2024-05-23 12:10:42
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