Rumors of Arrivabene-Binotto conflict flare up again

Scuderia boss Maurizio Arrivabene and the Italian outfit's technical director Mattia Binotto are allegedly locked in a power struggle at Maranello according to rumors fueled by the Italian media.

Of course, when it comes to reports on Ferrari conveyed by Italy's press the usual disclaimers apply, meaning that the country's media usually takes a substance of truth, spins a story with a bout of exaggeration and then multiplies it by five before publication.

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Regardless, it isn't the first time this year that rumors of an internal rift between the team's executives have resonated inside the F1 paddock since Ferrari's title challenge all but vanished after the summer.

The exact bone of contention between Arrivabene and Binotto - if there really is one - isn't known, but one can easily imagine that it's probably centered precisely around the red squad's performance of late, with criticism and reproaches likely fusing from the opposing camps.

The end result, according to reports from Italy, is an upper management in disarray and an ultimatum expressed by Binotto to Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri: "It's him [Arrivabene], or me!"

Sources close to Maranello also allege that the battle has drawn the attention of both Mercedes and Renault, who would be more than pleased to welcome Binotto to their respective technical departments in the event should the Swiss engineer depart the House of Maranello.

Rumors or not, we'll keep you posted…

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