In France they are sure: there is an agreement between Mattia Binotto and Alpine

In France they are sure: there is an agreement between Mattia Binotto and Alpine

Mattia Binotto could return to Formula 1 as early as the next Grand Prix, the Dutch Grand Prix on August 28, to settle at Alpine. The French team has been hunting the former Ferrari team principal for some time, and on the weekend of the Belgian Grand Prix announced the dismissal of team principal Otmar Szafnauer and technical director Alan Permane.

For the time being, the name of Szafnauer’s successor has not been announced, but it is clear that the biggest suspect is Binotto himself, indeed, French media give the deal already done, as Leo Turrini, one of the top Italian experts on Formula 1 and Ferrari, reported yesterday on his blog.

But Binotto’s landing at Alpine does not seem so simple: the Lausanne-born engineer has reportedly signed an agreement with Ferrari under which he would not be able to settle elsewhere for a period of one year, instead of the usual six months usually provided in such cases, since he left the Maranello-based manufacturer.

Therefore, Binotto could not land at Alpine until New Year’s Day 2024. It will be very interesting to follow the immediate developments in the affair also because the transalpine team will have to name its new team principal soon.