Topic: Formula 1 2022: The return of ground effect(s)

[Graeme]

Binotto officially resigned today. Not wholly unexpected.

[CornerFlag]

And yet Iñaki Rueda still keeps his job.  Man has photos of someone somewhere.

[naYoRHa2b]

Binotto officially resigned today. Not wholly unexpected.

I think it was unexpected to be honest. He's spent a lot of the second half of the season at Maranello working on the 2023 car, you don't do that if you expect to leave. A lot of the kneejerk reaction is clowns on social media and forums, quite toxic a lot of the stuff actually but I guess that was to be expected if anything.

Great engineer mind you, he might of felt awkward or undermined if he was asked to take a lesser role again after being TP.

And yet Iñaki Rueda still keeps his job.  Man has photos of someone somewhere.

Quite a bit of Spanish influence in Ferrari that's for sure.

[jackh]

Binotto officially resigned today.

I know they disappointed this season (although having still made significant progress), but I still thing that's a bit of a shame. Seemed a good & talented man and was clearly Ferrari 'through & through' - 28 years is one hell of a stint. Unfortunately, there are many more considerations than just those.

Guardian article with statements below. Found it interesting that, whilst their styles may be different, Binotto appears to have some leadership principles in common with Klopp - the final comments in this article are very similar to what Jurgen said in his first press conference with us, if I remember correctly.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/29/ferrari-team-principal-mattia-binotto-resigns-after-season-of-errors-motor-sport

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto resigns after season of errors

• ‘I am leaving a company I love … a united and growing team’
• Binotto carries can after Leclerc finishes second to Verstappen

The Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, has resigned and will leave his post at the end of December. It is reported Binotto may be replaced by the current Alfa Romeo principal Fred Vasseur but Ferrari have only stated in their announcement that a new principal will be appointed in the new year.

Binotto’s position after four seasons as principal is believed to have become untenable after he lost the confidence of the Ferrari president, John Elkann, following a season where the team was left looking helpless and, on occasion, amateurish by a dominant Red Bull and Max Verstappen.

“With the regret that this entails, I have decided to conclude my collaboration with Ferrari,” said Binotto.

“I am leaving a company that I love, which I have been part of for 28 years, with the serenity that comes from the conviction that I have made every effort to achieve the objectives set. I leave a united and growing team. A strong team, ready, I’m sure, to achieve the highest goals, to which I wish all the best for the future. I think it is right to take this step at this time as hard as this decision has been for me.”

Binotto took on the post in 2019 but has failed to turn around the fortunes at Ferrari since then. The team have still not taken a constructors’ title since 2008 and a drivers’ championship since 2007. After a positive first year the 53-year-old oversaw a disastrous season in 2020, when the car was seriously down on power, was a handful to drive and they finished sixth, their worst season since 1980 when they were 10th.

Much stock was placed in a resurgence under the new regulations imposed this year and initially Ferrari looked to have emerged as front-runners. Charles Leclerc won two of the opening three races in a car that was hugely competitive.

However, as the season progressed and Red Bull out-developed the Scuderia, the team were repeatedly found wanting with a series of failures in reliability, strategy and from the drivers Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen cantered to the title and Red Bull sealed the constructors’ crown with equal ease. Ferrari were out of the title fight almost by the midpoint of the season and although they finished second, were 205 points behind Red Bull.

Earlier this season at the Italian GP Elkann had defended Binotto but warned that his team must do better.

“We have great faith in Mattia Binotto and appreciate everything he and all our engineers have done,” he said. “But there is no doubt that the work in Maranello, in the garage, on the pit wall and at the wheel needs to improve.”

After Italy the team’s travails continued and they failed to genuinely challenge for a win. Several weeks ago rumours surfaced suggesting Binotto would be removed but they were dismissed by Ferrari and at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Binotto insisted he still had the full backing of Elkann. However, Ferrari have now ended their relationship with Binotto, who has been a stalwart at the team for over 25 years.

Binotto studied mechanical engineering at university and specialised in cars and engines when taking a masters. He was offered the chance to join the Scuderia as a graduate in 1995 and worked through the ranks including during the period when the Scuderia returned six consecutive constructors’ titles. He was put in charge of the engine in 2015, his management crucial in improving its performance, kick-starting the team’s return as a competitive force. He took over as chief technical officer in 2016, and principal in 2019.

His task then was formidable, the team he inherited from Maurizio Arrivabene badly needed a reset. They had challenged for titles in 2017 and 2018 but both seasons were found wanting.

Binotto had wanted to forge an entirely new squad from the ground up as Jean Todt had done during Michael Schumacher’s huge success with the Scuderia. “I always say to my guys it’s more important to be Ferrari than winning,” Binotto said in 2021. “Because winning will be a simple consequence. If we are capable of being Ferrari and working well, the winning will be the consequence.” But the victories failed to materialise, being Ferrari was simply not enough and Binotto ran out of time.

[El Lobo]

Not a great reflection on him if he's been in that position for four years, considering how dire they've been.

[jackh]

Not a great reflection on him if he's been in that position for four years, considering how dire they've been.

In his defence, it's probably fair to assume that almost all of his objectives would have been focused on the new regulations introduced (year-delayed) for this season - and they've made great strides in terms of competitiveness. Fallen short in some other areas however, and, ultimately, it all falls under his watch.

[voodoo ray]

he'll make loads in his other job as egon spengler lookalike anyway

[jackh]

he'll make loads in his other job as egon spengler lookalike anyway

 

[iamnant]

Has Linudden fallen off the face of the earth? Thought he'd be all over this news.

[IgorBobbins]

Has Linudden fallen off the face of the earth? Thought he'd be all over this news.

He probably spontaneously combusted with rage when Sainz didn’t move over for LeClerc in Brazil.

[naYoRHa2b]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1s-active-aero-plans-for-2026-could-include-reverse-drs/10406751/

Honestly I just think I'm done with F1 in the next few seasons, just becoming a joke.

I'm all for the spectacle but not at the expense of hard work and what goes into designing a fast car.  Slowing down the best car because you've designed the best car, what a load of horse shit.

Every year you get closer to mario kart, so P1 loses downforce to P2 but P2 loses it to P3 to the point where any car with effective downforce is the one in last and gets a Starman firing it halfway up the grid.

[voodoo ray]

I reckon that's as much chance as bernie's sprinkler idea.

[gazzalfc]

China GP out of the 2023 calendar due to COVID restrictions

[voodoo ray]

that was inevitable.

[Dave McCoy]

Put it in Talladega.

[iamnant]

He probably spontaneously combusted with rage when Sainz didn’t move over for LeClerc in Brazil.

[Graeme]

Sprint Races 2023...

Azerbaijan
Austria
Belgium
Qatar
USA
Brazil

[Mint]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1s-active-aero-plans-for-2026-could-include-reverse-drs/10406751/

Honestly I just think I'm done with F1 in the next few seasons, just becoming a joke.

I'm all for the spectacle but not at the expense of hard work and what goes into designing a fast car.  Slowing down the best car because you've designed the best car, what a load of horse shit.

Every year you get closer to mario kart, so P1 loses downforce to P2 but P2 loses it to P3 to the point where any car with effective downforce is the one in last and gets a Starman firing it halfway up the grid.

Insanity!
 It would turn the Constructors Series into a joke.
 So your engineers spend all that sponsor money on creating the best car their brains and money come up with, signaling their superiority over the other teams and they are going to gimp them because Williams are a bit shit. What is in it for the constructors at this point?

 The Drivers Series? Rename it "Death Race 2026" (yes, hyperbole!).
 As a driver you have practiced in your car to the nth degree. You've practiced the course, got your braking points, apexes, positioning, power off/on, etc all down pat muscle memory and all. 13th lap they decide you and your team are too good at what you do so they take away downforce on the corners. You break, scrub off speed go to turn and discover you have less traction than the first 12 laps? Dangerous. Plus you just negated their skill and all that practice.

This would not be racing, it would be a reality tv technology fashion show for gear heads. Hope they don't go this route.

 If they want passing and spectacle in the racing make the cars slower and put different amateurs in them every race. That should get some excitement going. Ha! (not serious)

 They are trying to regulating the cars to be equal as possible. The 20 best drivers in the world if all given the same car to practice in for a month and then set loose for 10 laps on the same track would average lap times within .1 to 2 seconds of each other (totally fabricated stat but you get my meaning).

I like the idea of F1 but the reality is lacking. I have no solutions to offer.

[gazzalfc]

Jost Capito sacked as team principal of Williams

[gazzalfc]

Talk of Susie Wolff taking over as well

[Graeme]

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFpUHSMx/

[Persephone]

Talk of Susie Wolff taking over as well

Who would be the top Wolff in that family?

[jackh]

Jost Capito sacked as team principal of Williams

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/63950370

Jost Capito: Williams chief executive to leave after two years in charge

Chief executive officer and team principal Jost Capito is to leave Williams after two years in charge.

The 64-year-old former car industry executive joined the team in December 2020, months after it was bought by investment group Dorilton Capital.

Frenchman Francois-Xavier Demaison, who was brought in as Williams' technical director by Capito in early 2021, is also leaving his job.

No reason for Capito's sudden departure was given by Williams.

Dorilton Capital chairman Matthew Savage said in a statement: "We would like to thank Jost for his hard work and dedication as we embarked on a major transformation process to begin the journey of reviving Williams Racing.

"We're grateful that Jost postponed his planned retirement to take on this challenge and now he will pass the reins on for the next part of this staged process."

Capito said in the same statement: "It has been a huge privilege to lead Williams Racing for the last two seasons and to lay the foundations for the turnaround of this great team."

Dorilton bought Williams from the family of the team's late founder Sir Frank Williams in the summer of 2020, with the aim of returning them to competitiveness after a slump in form.

It recruited Capito from the Volkswagen Group at the end of a 2020 season in which the team finished last in the championship for the third consecutive year.

The team improved in 2021, to finish eighth, their best result since 2017.

That was thanks in large part to George Russell's stunning performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, when he qualified the Williams second in wet weather. He was classified in the same place in the race, which was called off without any racing laps taking place because of poor weather.

Russell and Nicholas Latifi also took four other points finishes in 2021, finishing the season with 23 points and ahead of Alfa Romeo and Haas.

Williams were unable to keep up that momentum into 2022, which saw F1 introduce a major set of rule changes aimed at making the racing closer and bringing the field closer together.

Their car was the slowest in the field and although British-born Thai Alex Albon impressed as Russell's replacement, Williams slumped to last place again, with only eight points.

On raw qualifying pace, the Williams was more than 0.3 seconds a lap on average slower than the next slowest car over the 2022 season.

Dorilton is said by a source close to the team to have decided in the summer not to renew Capito's contract and to look elsewhere for a team principal.

The outfit now also need to source a new technical director to lead their design group.

Albon signed a new two-year contract for 2023 and 2024 and he has been joined at the team for 2023 by American Logan Sargent.

Capito revived Albon's career by choosing to give him a seat at Williams after he had been demoted to reserve driver by Red Bull after two seasons with their teams.

Albon paid tribute to Capito following news of his former boss's departure, writing on Twitter: "We only had one year working together but in that time you were not just a team principal but also a great friend. Thank you Jost for your faith in me this year and all the support that that came with."

No major shock, I suppose, that they want their own choice in after hiring a quick-fix upon taking over the team.

Bit of a shame though - Jost Capito seemed a great character...always enjoyed his interviews & appearances, and Albon's comments seem to back that up. Nice guys finish last

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Another change at the top at McLaren too:

McLAREN FORMULA 1 APPOINTS ANDREA STELLA AS NEW TEAM PRINCIPAL WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
Andreas Seidl leaves the team for a new challenge

McLaren Racing announces that Andrea Stella will move from Executive Director, Racing to F1 Team Principal with immediate effect. Andreas Seidl will leave the team and then move on to another challenge.

Andrea has a wealth of F1 experience and has proven successful both on and off the track. He has been a key member of the McLaren F1 team since 2015, working as Head of Race Operations, Performance Director and since 2019 as Executive Director, Racing. Andrea began his career with 15-years at Ferrari, including as Performance Engineer for Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen (2002-2008) and then as Race Engineer for Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso (2009-2015). Andrea has a degree in Aerospace Engineering, and subsequently completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“I’m delighted that Andrea Stella will step into the Team Principal role and lead our F1 technical and operational programme. Andrea is a highly talented, experienced and respected member of our team with a strong track record of leadership and success in Formula 1. His move into this role is a great example of the strength in depth we have in our team, and I’m excited to be working more closely with him with a joint focus on moving up the grid and winning races.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Andreas. He has provided great leadership for the team and has played a significant part in our F1 performance recovery plan and ongoing journey to return to the front of the grid. I thank him for the transparency throughout the process which gave us time to plan accordingly.”

Andrea Stella, new F1 Team Principal, McLaren Racing, said:
“I feel privileged to take on the Team Principal role as the next stage of being part of the McLaren F1 Team. I am grateful to Zak and the Shareholders for their trust in me and to all my colleagues and those who have supported me throughout my F1 career. We are realistic about the amount of work ahead of us to move back up the grid, but I am excited and encouraged that I am in this journey together with a team full of talent, experience, racing spirit and dedication. I look forward to working closely with each of them, Lando and Oscar, to together achieving great success and enjoying the journey.”

Andreas Seidl, former F1 Team Principal, McLaren Racing, said:
“I joined McLaren in 2019 and have really enjoyed working with Zak and the team. We have achieved some good results, and I will always have fond memories, with Monza being a personal and career highlight. The team is on a great trajectory, and I would like to thank everyone for their support, trust and commitment. Thanks to Zak and the shareholders for their understanding of my personal decision to move on to another challenge. I wish Andrea and the team all the best for the future.”

[voodoo ray]

it's "new job day" or so it seems because vasseur has been confirmed at ferrari too.

[IgorBobbins]

it's "new job day" or so it seems because vasseur has been confirmed at ferrari too.

And Seidl has gone to Sauber (/Audi?).  TP musical chairs.  What’s next - Binnotto to Williams?

[IgorBobbins]

My mistake - Seidl’s their new CEO, not TP.

[Mr Mingebag Squid]

Seidl to Sauber/Audi too

[gazzalfc]

Mick Schumacher going to be Mercedes reserve driver next season

[Adams83]

Seeing this thread made me realise I didn't watch any race last season and I didn't even realise the season had ended. The end of the previous season put me off the 'sport' after watching it for years..

[voodoo ray]

Seeing this thread made me realise I didn't watch any race last season and I didn't even realise the season had ended. The end of the previous season put me off the 'sport' after watching it for years..

you missed some decent actual racing. the new regs seemed to work and it should get better as the design philosphies inevitably converge.