Ferrari have replaced Maurizio Arrivabene with Mattia Binotto as their team principal.

The major move just days into the New Year has been taken little over a month before pre-season testing begins and comes in the wake of the team’s title defeats to Mercedes last year.

A Ferrari statement read: “The decision was taken together with the company’s top management after lengthy discussions related to Maurizio’s long-term personal interests as well as those of the team itself.

“Ferrari would like to thank Maurizio for his valuable contribution to the team’s increasing competitiveness over the past few years, and wish him the best for his future endeavours. With immediate effect, Mattia Binotto will take over as Scuderia Ferrari’s team principal. All technical areas will continue to report directly to Mattia.”

Binotto has served as Ferrari’s technical director since 2016 but rumours of tension between himself and Arrivabene were rife last year as the team’s title challenge faded for the second consecutive season.

But while Arrivabene’s future had been at the centre of on-off speculation for several years, the exact timing of his eventual departure comes as a surprise with Sky Sports in Italy reporting that a contract renewal had appeared a ‘formality’ before the Christmas break.

“Between the panettone and the lentils something has happened, or definitely broken, and the renewal has not been made,” said Carlo Vanzini, Sky in Italy’s F1 commentator.

Arrivabene had served as team boss for four seasons and overseen a revival in the team’s fortunes since a dismal and turbulent 2014 campaign when Stefano Domenicali and Marco Mattiacci each had spells in charge.

However, Ferrari have been unable to end Mercedes’ stranglehold on F1’s world titles despite having been thought to have had quicker cars at certain points of the last two seasons.

The Scuderia’s title drought has now stretched beyond 10 years.

Binotto was considered a close associate of late Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, who died suddenly in July, and three years ago was promoted to the role of chief technical officer after the departure of James Allison.

Rival teams had been linked with approaches for the 49-year-old in recent months.

Arrivabene’s departure comes ahead of a season when they have already made a significant change to their driver line-up.

The long-serving Kimi Raikkonen has been replaced with the 21-year-old Charles Leclerc, with the star graduate of Ferrari’s young driver program promoted to partner four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.

Ferrari will launch their 2019 car in Italy on February 15.

“Evidently personal and business situations, as the statement reads, and the fear of disagreements during the season, have weighed on the decision to trigger the revolution just over a month from the presentation of the car that Vettel and Leclerc will fight to try and win the 2019 world title,” Vanzini added.

— James Galloway, skysports

RICCIARDO SHOWS OFF HIS SKILL

Formula 1 drivers are some of the most experienced wheelmen in the world. With blindingly quick reactions and an ability to drive in all conditions, their talents are otherworldly.

Aussie Daniel Ricciardo has been praised throughout his career as being one of the most talented drivers in the field.

From his unbelievable overtaking maneouvers where he dives late into corners to handling the car under adverse weather.

His shining moment in 2018 came when he took out the Monaco Grand Prix, ahead of rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.

Ricciardo decided to show off his unbelievable driving ability in the tight confines of another track, this time now on asphalt, instead opting for a dirt road.

In his off-season break the smiling assassin uploaded the video to his personal Instagram account, giving a point of view experience for the mesmerising drive.

His new employers Renault may not have enjoyed the footage as much, with their new prized recruit flying dangerously close past plenty of big trees.

Thankfully the cool hand skills of Ricciardo meant he made it through unscathed and was just a glimpse into the unbelievable level of control he has.

2019 FORMULA 1 RACE CALENDAR

March 17: Australian Grand Prix — Melbourne

March 31: Bahrain Grand Prix — Sakhir

April 14: Chinese Grand Prix — Shanghai

April 28: Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Baku

May 12: Spanish Grand Prix — Barcelona

May 26: Monaco Grand Prix — Monaco

June 9: Canadian Grand Prix — Montreal

June 23: French Grand Prix — Le Castellet

June 30: Austrian Grand Prix — Spielberg

July 14: British Grand Prix — Silverstone

July 28: German Grand Prix — Hockenheim

August 4: Hungarian Grand Prix — Budapest

September 1: Belgian Grand Prix — Spa-Francorchamps

September 8: Italian Grand Prix — Monza

September 22: Singapore Grand Prix — Singapore

September 29: Russian Grand Prix — Sochi

October 13: Japanese Grand Prix — Suzuka

October 27: Mexican Grand Prix — Mexico City

November 3: U.S. Grand Prix — Austin

November 17: Brazilian Grand Prix — Sao Paulo

December 1: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Yas Island