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Mattia Binotto Reveals Why Ferrari Is Moving on From Sebastian Vettel

Published 05/14/2020, 1:51 PM EDT

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Ferrari declared on Tuesday that four-time title-holder Sebastian Vettel would leave the group toward the end of the 2020 season, finishing his six-year spell at Maranello. Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says talks with Sebastian Vettel over another agreement uncovered that both the parties do not have similar objectives.

Carlos Sainz Jr was named as Vettel’s substitution on Thursday. He signed from McLaren for one year from now to accomplice Charles Leclerc.

The declaration from Ferrari mentions that the choice to cancel contract talks was mutual. Vettel said there was “no longer a common desire to stay together”. Binotto says Ferrari’s future has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and looming lower spending cap in 2021. He also mentions that the group and Vettel were not, at this point aligned.

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Talking at the Motor Valley Fest in Modena, Ferrari team boss Binotto clarified the choice, saying the group was “convinced” it was the correct call.

“Over the last weeks, the world has changed. Not only from an economic point of view but also from a technical and sports point of view. There are challenges and obstacles that are going to be difficult,” Binotto said at the Motor Valley Fest Digital.

“We are laying the foundations for the future. And we want to have a specific perspective.

“We closed a cycle with Sebastian. Sebastian has been working in our team for six years,” Binotto said.

Why Carlos in place of Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari’s declaration of Sainz, who has only one podium finish, will give the Italian group its most inexperienced line-up in the recent history.

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“We believe that a driver pairing with the talent and personality of Charles and Carlos, the youngest in the past fifty years of the Scuderia, will be the best possible combination to help us reach the goals we have set ourselves”.

Regardless of that, Binotto has no questions about the choice to proceed onward from the four-time world champion Vettel.

“I admire Sebastian, I admire him as a person and as a professional pilot. I hold him in great esteem.

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“We discussed with Sebastian and we found out we didn’t share the same goals, short or long term goals. Sainz is a great addition. He is smart, young, he has participated in five seasons. He is a strong, reliable pilot that conquers many championship points during races.

I believe for us he is a great pilot to be paired with the pure talent of Charles so he can grow and win.”

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Written by:

Abhay Aggarwal

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Abhay Aggarwal is sports analyst at EssentiallySports. Having joined ES in early 2020, he has over 300 NASCAR, Formula 1, and Tennis articles to his name. Abhay has been an avid motorsports fan for over a decade, and he even attended the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in 2011.
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