Binotto Plans Ferrari Overhaul

FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Russian Grand Prix - Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia - September 27, 2019 Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto during practice REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Russian Grand Prix - Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia - September 27, 2019 Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto during practice REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
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Binotto Plans Ferrari Overhaul

FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Russian Grand Prix - Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia - September 27, 2019 Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto during practice REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Russian Grand Prix - Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia - September 27, 2019 Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto during practice REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Ferrari team chief Mattia Binotto plans to use Formula One’s mini-break before the British Grand Prix next month to analyze and overhaul his team's operations after a poor start to the delayed season.

The Italian said the season had got off to a "worse than expected" start and has ordered an intensive effort to find solutions.

Speaking after Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, where four-time champion Sebastian Vettel finished sixth and Charles Leclerc was 11th, Binotto said he had not been surprised after realizing at pre-season testing that the SF1000 car was slower than hoped.

Leclerc has 18 points from three races, already significantly behind Lewis Hamilton's leading 63-point haul, while Vettel has just nine.

"I think we saw in Barcelona that we were not fast enough, but I think we were not expecting such a difficult situation -- it's certainly worse compared to expectations.

"We've got a couple of weeks before Silverstone. It will be important for us back in Maranello to consider all the aspects of the car, in our organization, whatever needs to be improved.

“We need a clear analysis of the overall performance of the car, of the team, and to really address it as soon as possible.

“We don't need to work more, we need to work better.

“How to do that will be part of our analysis."

He said that a raft of updates for the car ushered in for the Hungarian race had not made much real difference to performance.

"The deficit at the moment is still there,” he said. “We are lacking speed on the straights, we are lacking speed in cornering.

"Overall, the car has to be improved in all areas. It's as simple as that."



Renard Back to Coach Saudi Arabia after Mancini Exits

France's head coach Herve Renard stands on the sidelines before a women's quarterfinal soccer match between France and Brazil, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP)
France's head coach Herve Renard stands on the sidelines before a women's quarterfinal soccer match between France and Brazil, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP)
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Renard Back to Coach Saudi Arabia after Mancini Exits

France's head coach Herve Renard stands on the sidelines before a women's quarterfinal soccer match between France and Brazil, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP)
France's head coach Herve Renard stands on the sidelines before a women's quarterfinal soccer match between France and Brazil, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP)

Herve Renard was hired to coach Saudi Arabia for a second time on Saturday, two days after the departure of Roberto Mancini.

“I'm back,” Renard said in a social media video posted by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation.

The Frenchman most recently coached France women to the Paris Olympics quarterfinals.

He was previously in charge of Saudi Arabia from 2019-23, a tenure that included a famous 2-1 win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“I did not intend to leave (Saudi). But when your country knocks on your door you have to respond,” Renard said. “My connection with Saudi, the fans, the players and all the memories — I can never forget. I did not finish my story with Saudi.”

Renard’s contract will run until the end of 2025 with an option to extend until the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Mancini was hired by Saudi Arabia in August 2023 having led Italy to victory at the 2021 European Championship. But the serial trophy winner was quickly under pressure after an underwhelming Asian Cup in January and an exit in the round of 16.

In Asia’s third round of World Cup qualifying that started in September, Saudi Arabia has collected just five points from four games. This month at home it lost to Japan 2-0 and drew with Bahrain 0-0.

It left Saudi Arabia third place in the six-team group. The top two qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup while the third- and fourth-placed finishers progress to the fourth stage.

Renard’s first game back in charge is against Australia in Melbourne on Nov. 14.