Axed Ferrari boss Binotto thrown lifeline(s) as talks with other F1 teams emerge

Axed Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto could be snapped up by Mercedes, according to Italy's authoritative Corriere della Sera newspaper.

After 28 years with the Maranello-based team, Binotto resigned following speculation about his future.

He is expected to be replaced by Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur from 1 January.

"Binotto and (Ferrari chairman John) Elkann were like water and oil," highly respected Italian journalist Leo Turrini told Radio24.

"When the Ferrari chairman loses faith in the team boss, this outcome is only logical."

The other options

Some, though, think Ferrari's old habits of lopping off the management head after a failed Formula 1 championship campaign were premature in Binotto's case.

Turrini said he believes the 53-year-old Italian is already in talks with Audi, with the Volkswagen-owned German brand set to take over Sauber in 2026.

"Binotto will soon start working with the competition," Turrini predicts.  "I know that he is in talks with Audi."

The Mercedes rumour, however, is also not far-fetched, after the German marque in recent years signed up several ousted Ferrari figures, including James Allison and Aldo Costa.

Corriere della Sera also thinks the Renault Group may be interested in Binotto for its works F1 team Alpine.