Earlier this week, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that Todt could return to the Maranello squad as a “super advisor”, a position similar to the late Niki Lauda’s role at Mercedes in recent years.
The report said Todt, who has been FIA president since 2009, has already had talks with Ferrari chairman John Elkann about a possible return.
However, Binotto insisted the rumors were just that and denied there had been any conversations with Todt.
Binotto admitted, however, that he would be honored to work with Todt again in the future.
“I have heard and read some speculation about this, but I can say that it has only been speculation so far,” Binotto said at the press conference in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
“Personally, I worked with Jean Todt, he was my boss, I think I learned a lot from him.
“It was an honor to work with him and whatever the future would be it would still be an honor for me to work with him because I still believe that there is still a lot to learn as a team.”
When asked whether Ferrari had been in talks with Todt about a possible role in the team in the future, Binotto said simply: “No”.
Mattia Binotto, team principal, Ferrari
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Todt, 75, is in his final term as FIA President and elections for a successor will take place next week.
The Frenchman joined Ferrari in 1993 as general manager of the team and under his leadership the Italian team won 14 Formula 1 world championships in one of the most successful epochs of the Scuderia in this sport.
He was Ferrari’s team boss when Michael Schumacher won five of his seven titles and helped the German 72 of his 91 Grand Prix victories.
In 2004 he was also appointed Ferrari CEO before moving to an advisory role at the end of the 2006 season.
Todt remained on the Ferrari board of directors until early 2009 before being elected FIA president later that year.
