Ferrari team principal Binotto to miss Abu Dhabi GP through illness

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has been forced to return home to Italy after being diagnosed with an illness unrelated to Covid-19.

Binotto recently opted to miss the Turkish and Bahrain Grand Prix as part of his wider plans ahead of a 23-race calendar when staff will be rotated to ensure they are fresh for a record-breaking campaign.

The 51-year-old returned for last weekend's race in Sakhir but became ill late on and has been confined to his hotel in Bahrain as doctors advised he rest before flying.

Any concerns with regard to Covid-19 have been firmly allayed.

Binotto is scheduled to return on Thursday and will lead the team from the factory in Maranello, while sporting director Laurent Mekies will oversee operations at the Yas Marina circuit.

Ferrari heads into the weekend with little to play for as it is no longer in the fight for third in the constructors' championship, with the Scuderia now 41 points adrift of fifth-placed Renault, while it is 28 ahead of seventh-placed AlphaTauri.

Ferrari will at least be looking to provide Sebastian Vettel with a good send off to end his six years with the team ahead of the four-time F1 champion's departure to Aston Martin from next season.

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