Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko believes that the Ferrari Formula 1 squad is weaker following Mattia Binotto’s exit.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, Ferrari announced that it had accepted Binotto’s resignation, bringing an end to his four-year stint as team boss.
In his place will arrive Frederic Vasseur, who leaves his Team Principal role at Alfa Romeo.
Ferrari endured a difficult year, as strategy errors, unreliability and on-track mistakes saw its strong early season form disappear.
Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Marko says that Ferrari is now a weaker team following the shake-up.
“In the case of Ferrari, I don’t quite understand the change,” Marko said. “I consider Binotto to be an excellent technician and politician.
“He was simply overwhelmed by the task. But it would have been enough to put a sporting director at his side to support him at the track and with the strategy.
“With the new man, who has many other jobs, I see a weakening for Ferrari.”
When asked if Red Bull and Mercedes are winners from the changes, he said: “Definitely. Through stability and continuity.”
Red Bull dominated both championships in 2022, as it picked up the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles with a number of rounds to spare.
Mercedes, who enjoyed great success in the first several years of the turbo-hybrid era, struggled for form during much of the year.
However, it picked up its one and only victory of the year at the penultimate round in Brazil – and Marko sees the Brackley-based squad as a bigger threat than Ferrari for 2023.
“As we said at the beginning, they are the more stable team,” he said. “And they have Hamilton. Even though it may have gone down this year. He’s a very special driver.
“In between, he’s shown time and again with his lap times that he’s a top man. It’s simply a much stronger package than Ferrari.”
