Binotto not served comments Wolff: ''Mercedes always has an opinion''

Wolff doesn't understand anything about Ferrari

The announced departure at Ferrari from Vettel came as a surprise to many. Not necessarily that he would leave, because it was clear that Ferrari preferred Charles Leclerc, but people were surprised by the timing. Even before the F1 season of 2020 has started, Vettel already knows he's leaving.

Mercedes would be one of the candidates to offer Vettel a seat, but Wolff and Valtteri Bottas have clearly shown that their own drivers take precedence and there are a lot of them in the meantime. Wolff did express his surprise about the timing of the announcement, but Binotto didn't like that.

Binotto gives a reply

''I'm glad Mercedes always has an opinion about us'', it sounds sarcastic of Binotto in conversation with La Stampa. ''I'm surprised they haven't offered Hamilton a new contract yet. I would have done that a lot sooner. That's what we did to Vettel on purpose, so we can be open and honest.''

If Vettel does go to Mercedes, Binotto doesn't necessarily see that as a loss. ''It's a four-time world champion and he deserves to ride in a top team. If he would go to Mercedes, then I'm only happy for him'', concludes the team boss who will have to work another year with Vettel and must hope that team orders still work.