Hill would bring back 'talented' Binotto in technical role at Ferrari

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Damon Hill believes Ferrari should have repositioned Mattia Binotto at the head of the Italian outfit's engineering staff instead of parting ways with the former Scuderia boss at the end of last year.

After a troubled 2022 campaign that started well but was eventually undermined by reliability and operational issues, Binotto left Ferrari at the end of the season to make way for Fredercic Vasseur, his successor at the helm of the Italian outfit who had moved from Sauber to the Scuderia.

Ferrari's results in the first five races of 2023 have so far disappointed its fans, its SF-23 charger lacking consistency and pace in race trim relative to Red Bull's dominant RB19.

Binotto is currently serving a period of gardening leave but the Italian's name popped up this week as a possible – albeit unlikely – recruit for Alpine which is struggling to meet its top brass' expectations.

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Speaking on the latest F1 Nation podcast, Hill suggested that Ferrari should perhaps hire back Binotto and pair him with Vasseur to lighten the latter's responsibilities and burden.

"I thought it wasn’t the right role for him," said Hill on the F1 Nation podcast, referring to Ferrari's decision in 2019 to entrust the management of the Scuderia to Binotto.

"He’s technical, and I think he’s very important to the team.

"I think he’s got enormous talent, and I’d bring him back in and say 'okay, you can run all the technical side of things' and obviously he's a very bright guy, but I don't know if that's possible politically."

Hill says he was surprised that Ferrari didn't opt for a two-pronged management strategy with Vasseur and Binotto.

"There’s another aspect to being a team principal, which I think that some people are good at," added the 1996 F1 World Champion.

"A lot of it is about arguing over money, or the strategy or the marketing in F1. It might not be his prime focus, it might not be the something that you love and is your passion.

"But I was surprised that they [Ferrari] couldn’t fit the two in, because I think Fred Vasseur is that sort of guy, he understands racing."

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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.