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Ferrari CEO Camilleri reiterates full support for Binotto

Ferrari chief executive Louis Camilleri reiterated his full support for Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto, insisting that pulling the Italian outfit out of its current slump would "take time".

Ferrari is facing a challenging year, its SF1000 package languishing in Formula 1's mid-field with limited prospects of improvement because of the sport's restrictions on development that will extend into next year.

Neither Charles Leclerc nor Sebastian Vettel succeeded in qualifying among the top ten at Monza on Saturday, a shortfall last suffered by the Scuderia on home ground in 1984!

Teams that underperform for an extended period often see changes at the helm, but while Ferrari has tweaked its technical structure in the wake of its disappointing results, Camilleri remains confident in Binotto's ability to turn around Ferrari's fortunes.

"There’s no denying we are having a very difficult season," the Ferrari chief told the New York Times.

"I have to say I have every confidence in Mattia Binotto and his team.

"The results aren’t there to prove what I’m saying, but these things take time. Regretfully in the past, there has been too much pressure and a history of people being let go.

"There was somewhat of a revolving-door atmosphere, and I’m putting a stop to that.

"What we need is stability and focus. If you look at Red Bull’s period of winning championships, Mercedes today, other than talent, one of the key things they had was stability, and that’s something frankly our team has been lacking."

Ferrari's last world title dates all the way back to 2008, when the House of Maranello clinched the Constructors' crown.

©Ferrari

The team's success back then was rooted in the foundation built by former Scuderia boss Jean Todt and the key individuals working alongside the Frenchman, including seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

"If I look back at the caliber of Jean Todt, Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn [technical director at the time] and all those guys, it took them six years to get to what they ultimately became — this phenomenal winning team," noted Camilleri.

"So I want to ensure that stability remains in place, despite the unbelievable pressure there is on the team, particularly from the Italian media, who are quite brutal at times, calling for heads to roll, but that’s not the solution.

"This doesn’t mean, however, that we won’t consider injecting additional skills and resources into the existing team."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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