Mattia Binotto will "land on his feet" after his Ferrari departure, according to his new Netflix bestie Guenther Steiner.
The Italian departed as Ferrari team principal at the end of last season. Following the anaemic collapse of the team's title challenge, Binotto handed in his resignation as he felt he no longer had the full support of the hierarchy at Maranello.
It remains to be seen what his next role will be. It is believed he may have to take a full year away from F1, and it was reported that the Scuderia paid him "extra compensation" to extend his gardening leave period.
Whatever happens, Haas team boss Guenther Steiner thinks Binotto will be just fine. And he may be the best judge of that, considering how close friends they appeared to be in the new series of Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
The first episode began with them enjoying a lovely drive through the Dolomites, sampling wine and local produce as they joked with each other. Another clip later in the series showed the two of them cackling together as Toto Wolff and Christian Horner yell at one another in a meeting of team bosses.
Asked about his friend's next move, Steiner told reporters: "I don’t know, you have to ask him that. I think he’s in a good place. I spoke with him at the beginning of the week and I think a guy like Mattia will land on his feet."
It remains to be seen where Binotto lands once his gardening leave period comes to an end. Any move to a different team will be a significant adjustment for a man who spent almost three decades working his way up the ranks at Ferrari.
Both Red Bull and Mercedes have publicly distanced themselves from a potential move for the Italian. It may well be newcomers Audi who pick him up when they officially enter F1 in 2026, taking over the Sauber team which currently races under Alfa Romeo branding.
Respected Italian F1 reporter Leo Turrini recently said: "I'm sure that Binotto will be able to stay in Formula 1 after the gardening period. I am absolutely certain that he has had a proposal from Audi to lead the team that will be on the grid in the near future."
