Since 2018, Lawrence Stroll has been the owner of Team Silverstone and has recently taken charge of the Aston Martin rebrand in 2021.
Could Mattia Binotto be on his way to Aston Martin? The former Ferrari figure has reportedly been seen chatting with team owner Lawrence Stroll.
After being a loyal member of Ferrari since 1995, Binotto decided to step down from his position as team principal and leave Scuderia at the end of 2022. However, there is speculation about a potential new Formula 1 opportunity that lies ahead for him.
Mattia Binotto apparently seen talking to Aston Martin owner
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
As per Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, Binotto was back in the F1 paddock at Imola, Ferrari’s home race, where he reportedly headed for Aston Martin hospitality for a conversation with their ambitious owner Stroll, who they claim has a ‘concrete interest’ in making Binotto their team principal.
They also mention that Binotto’s gardening leave, which is a standard practice for high-ranking team members after leaving Ferrari, ended six months ago. This means he is now eligible to pursue any opportunity that may arise with Aston Martin.
Under Mike Krack’s leadership, the team unveiled a series of enhancements for the Aston Martin AMR24 at Imola. However, these upgrades did not result in a significant improvement, with Lance Stroll being the only team member to secure two points.
Despite suggestions that Aston Martin may need to revert to the previous spec AMR24, Krack argued that a step forward was indeed achieved and dismissed such claims.
Krack, while speaking to media including Thomas Maher from PlanetF1.com, insisted that the upgrades are undeniably a positive advancement.
“There is no requirement to roll them off.”
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Aston Martin’s progress will face a crucial test at the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix, as last year they had a chance to win with Fernando Alonso if circumstances had been different.
Despite this, Krack was eager to emphasize the narrow differences on the current F1 grid, where a small variation can place you either at the back or near the front.
When questioned about his confidence in Aston Martin’s low-speed performance for Monaco, Krack responded by saying, “Last year’s Monaco race is in the past. We will assess this year’s race when we get there.”
“We will dedicate ourselves to completing our homework. There is an extensive amount to tackle, with plenty to comprehend, and we will patiently wait to observe the outcome.”
This year, we have observed a noticeable trend of shrinking margins. Once you find yourself on the unfavorable side of these narrow margins, there’s a risk of being eliminated.
Lance mentioned on Friday night that tomorrow, in Q1, you have the possibility of landing anywhere between 18th or 5th place. The competition is extremely tight, and depending on factors like track conditions and traffic, you could either secure a fantastic starting position or end up at the very back.
Aston Martin sit P5 in the Constructors’ Championship, 35 points behind Mercedes a position ahead.
Aston Martin has been approached by PlanetF1.com regarding the Binotto speculation, and their response is currently pending.
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