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Mattia Binotto
Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Mattia Binotto has resigned as team boss of the Ferrari Formula 1 racing team.
Ferrari announced this on Tuesday.
"I think it's right to take this step at this point, no matter how difficult the decision was for me," said Binotto, who is leaving the team at the end of this year.
The search for a new Ferrari team boss is ongoing, and he should be announced in the new year.
Binotto had been in various positions for the Scuderia for 28 years.
There had recently been rumors about a separation of Scuderia from Binotto around the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Binotto is temporarily replaced by Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna.
Frederic Vasseur (54) is the most likely successor.
The Frenchman has been team boss at Sauber, which was later renamed Alfa Romeo, since 2017.
The racing team works closely with Ferrari.
Binotto joined Scuderia in 1995 and served as engine engineer for Michael Schumacher during his Ferrari era.
The Swiss later rose to become technical director before replacing Maurizio Arrivabene as team boss in early 2019 after a power struggle.
Ferrari has been waiting for a drivers' title since 2017
Ferrari last won the drivers' title in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, and the last time the constructors' championship was in 2008.
Even the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel could not lead the Scuderia to the top in his time from 2015 to 2020.
In the past season, Charles Leclerc finished second in the World Championship behind Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. After three races, Leclerc was even 46 points ahead of Verstappen.
Driving mistakes, strategy failures and technical problems cost an even better result afterwards.
ast/dpa/sid
