Arrivabene out, Binotto in as Ferrari F1 chief?

Scuderia Ferrari is set to replace Maurizio Arrivabene with Mattia Binotto as team principal of its Formula 1 operation ahead of the 2019 season, according to reports.

Long-serving Ferrari engineer Binotto has served as the F1 team’s chief technical officer since July 2016, but is now reportedly set to step up into the most senior role following Arrivabene’s exit.

Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Monday morning that Binotto would be replacing Arrivabene ahead of the new season, ending the latter's four-season stint as team principal.

Arrivabene took over as Ferrari team principal from Marco Mattiacci in November 2014, but was unable to end the Scuderia’s title drought that dates back to 2008.

Sebastian Vettel finished as runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the F1 drivers’ championship for the second consecutive year in 2018, while Ferrari also lost out to Mercedes in the constructors’ title race. 

Crash.net understands that Binotto’s position as Ferrari's F1 technical chief would be filled by former FIA deputy race director Laurent Mekies, who made his first appearance for the team in Abu Dhabi in the role of sporting director.

The departure of Arrivabene would act as the latest major change to take place at Ferrari over the last six months, a period that has seen its senior management undergo a significant shake-up.

The death of Sergio Marchionne in July led to the appointment of Louis C. Camilleri as Ferrari's new CEO, with John Elkann becoming the marque's chairman.

Ferrari will also race with a revised driver line-up next year as 21-year-old Charles Leclerc becomes Vettel's teammate, replacing Kimi Raikkonen.

Ferrari is yet to issue any statement regarding its management.