Mattia Binotto could return to the Formula 1 paddock in the future when his Ferrari gardening leave is over.
That is the view of Guenther Steiner, who is a good friend of the Italian. The Haas chief has, for a long time, had a strong relationship with Binotto – in his new book, Surviving to Drive, he credits that friendship with helping him to secure the partnership with Ferrari which helped Haas to make it to the F1 grid.
The latest series of the Netflix Drive to Survive series also illustrates the relationship between them. The first episode opens with Steiner and Binotto driving a small classic car through the Dolomites in northern Italy and enjoying wine and cheese, while later they are seen giggling among themselves as Toto Wolff and Christian Horner argue in a team principals' meeting.
After a tough 2022 season in which their title challenge collapsed, Binotto walked away. He had been with the Scuderia for close to three decades, rising through the ranks to the top job, which he held for four years until he resigned.
Steiner spoke to Binotto over the phone only the day before he sat down with Mirror Sport for a wide-ranging interview. "He's doing good, he's fine. I think he's in a good place," said the Haas chief of his friend.
"He worked at Ferrari for a long time, I think 28 years. It was his first job there and he was never anywhere else, so obviously when you get hit with this, it's difficult. But I think he's moved on from it and is looking forward to his future.
Asked if he thinks Binotto will be back in F1 in the future, Steiner added: "I don't know what he's working on but, for sure, there will be opportunities for him. If you ask me, yes. Don't ask me where, when and why! But I think yes."
Binotto's resignation meant Steiner lost that strong relationship with the man in charge of the Ferrari team. Luckily for him, the man the Scuderia called in to replace him is his other favourite fellow team principal, Frederic Vasseur. The pair have regularly been seen playing pranks on one another in the paddock and get along very well.
Steiner added: "The good thing which came out is that I get on very well with Fred as well. I had a soft landing. At Ferrari there are a lot of people, not only Mattia, and I have a good relationship with the guys there so it's pretty positive.
"For me, if I could have asked to pick someone to replace Mattia I would have picked Fred because for the last two years we were always side-by-side establishing a relationship. Fred is a racer and I am as well, so we always got on well. It couldn't have ended better for me, other than having Mattia there."
