Mika Hakkinen doubts rumoured conflict with Charles Leclerc was behind Mattia Binotto’s Ferrari F1 exit
Ferrari announced earlier this week they had 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:accepted Binotto’s resignation as team principal after nearly four years in charge of F1’s most famous team.&൩nbsp;
It came after Ferrari’s failed bid to end their long wait for F1 silverware in a season littered by poor reliability, strategic errors and driver mistakes that accelerated their defeat to rivals Red Bull and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen.
There was speculation that Leclerc’s camp had been pushing for Binotto’s departure from Ferrari ♏after the pair reportedly fell out as the Monegasque’s hopes of a maiden championship faded.
But Hakkinen, who won th🥀e 1998 and 1999 F1 worl൲d titles with McLaren, said he does not believe there is any truth to the rumours.
"I don't know about that,"꧅ Hakkinen told Sky Sports News. "I always thought when I was racing, it's not a question about whether you like somebody, it's a question of how good they are, how committed they are, how intelᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚligent, how clever they are - that's what matters.
"It doesn't matter whether you li💯ke them or not. That doesn't interfere with your success.
"You have to work in a team, you have to respect the people's 𝓡talent, knowledge, their commitment to the sport, so I doubt it's a true story.
"It's very sad, I think he [Binotto] is a great personal🐷ity, a great guy.
"Formula 1 is a 🔥very complicated sport, it requires three, four extremely talented people to run the team, to make a success. It's not just one man or o🧔ne woman who can run the team.
"It requires a number of individuals - different characters, different talents to be able to add an꧋d contribute to the team's success.”
Leclerc thanked Binotto in a on the same day the Italian’s exit from Ferrarꩵi was confirmed.
“Thanks for everything, Mattia,” h🍸e wrote. “We spent four very intense years together, of great satisfaction and also, inevitably, of moments that put us to the test.
“My esteem and respect for you have never failed, and we ♌have always worked with all the dedication to achieve🍌 the same goals. Good luck for everything.”
Current Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur has been168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: tipped to replace Binotto for F1 2023.
Lewis regularly attend♉s Grands Prix for mahbx.com around the world. ♎Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
