Leclerc says 'esteem and respect' for Binotto never waned

©Ferrari

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Charles Leclerc has reacted on social media to the news of Mattia Binotto's departure from Ferrari.

The former Scuderia boss handed in his resignation which has been accepted by Ferrari chairman John Elkann. Binotto will officially leave Ferrari on December 31.

Rumors of Binotto's exit from the Scuderia emerged ahead of F1's season finale in Abu Dhabi but were dismissed by Ferrari's top brass.

However, they came back to the fore at the end of last week in the wake of a report by Italy's Corriere della Sera that claimed that Binotto's departure was imminent.

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OFFICIAL: Binotto steps down as Ferrari F1 team principal

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the Italian engineer, who has been with Ferrari for 28 years and who has been at the helm of the Scuderia since 2019, will leave the House of Maranello at the end of the year.

"Thank you for everything, Mattia," Leclerc write on Instagram.

"We spent four very intense years together, full of great satisfaction and also, inevitably, of moments that challenged us.

"My esteem and respect for you never diminished, and we have always worked with great dedication to achieve the same goals.

"Good luck with everything."

©Ferrari

Leclerc's teammate, Carlos Sainz, also paid tribute to the man to whom he owes his seat at Ferrari.

"Grazie Mattia. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside you to push the team and ourselves forward through thick and thin.

"Thanks for the great memories and moments we shared in and out of a racing track and all the best in your future endeavours!"

©Ferrari

Binotto's departure follows a season during which Ferrari won four races, three of which were won by Leclerc, and finished runner-up in the Constructors' standings behind Red Bull.

While the Scuderia and Leclerc hit the ground running at the start of F1's 2022 campaign, missteps and mistakes progressively saw the Italian outfit lose ground to Red Bull, with no wins registered by the Italian outfit in the back half of the season.

Ferrari has yet to nominate Binotto's successor, but whoever fills the vacancy will pick up the baton as the Scuderia's fifth team principal since the start of F1's hybrid era in 2014, an astonishing statistic in light of the rock solid management stability enjoyed by Ferrari's rivals.

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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.