Timo Glock thinks Mattia Binotto must have a “watertight” contract at Ferrari – and wonders just what he needs to do to get the sack.
Team principal Binotto is presiding over Ferrari’s worst campaign for many a year, having slid from being World Championship hopefuls to racing among the backmarkers. They are sixth of 10 in the constructors’ standings, a whopping 259 points adrift of leaders Mercedes.
Although he has come under significant pressure from outside the Scuderia, Binotto insists he has the full support of senior executives at the Italian giants who have provided him with a newly set up Performance Department to try and turn their fortunes around.
However, former F1 driver Glock is sceptical as to whether Ferrari are doing enough. In an interview with Speedweek, the German made the comparison to a football manager who keeps producing poor results and yet avoids being fired.
“Apparently he has a watertight contract,” joked Glock, 38, who competed in F1 for the Jordan, Toyota, Virgin and Marussia teams.
“Usually it is relatively clear that he has to leave after such incidents. But at the moment he is still holding up well in the saddle. I’m curious to see how much longer.”
In fairness, Glock does not feel that simply replacing Binotto in a like-for-like switch would necessarily be the right answer for Ferrari, whose cars are struggling for engine power this year.
“At some point there has to be consequences but it’s not just up to one person, a completely new structure has to go into it,” he added.
“They will be happy when the new rules come along (in 2022) but engine power is engine power. You have to work it out first. It will be difficult, it will take time.”
Glock also expressed his support for Sebastian Vettel’s move to the rebranded Aston Martin team for 2021 having been dumped by Ferrari, speculating that his compatriot may continue with the outfit currently competing under the Racing Point banner after his time as a driver has ended.
“It was obviously the best option for him,” said Glock. “Maybe also for the time after your career. Maybe he’s put out feelers about the team so that he can play a role there longer, so it was a good decision.”
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