A Ferrari Formula 1 seat in 2021 came too soon for Antonio Giovinazzi, a꧑ccording to team boss Mattia Binotto.

Following the shock news of Sebastian Vettel’s depa💎rture from Ferrari at the end of the year after the two sides failed to agree new🦩 contract terms, the Italian squad moved swiftly to sign Carlos Sainz on a two-year deal.

Giovinazzi replaced the Ferrari-bound Charles 🔜Leclerc to make his full-time F1 debut for Alfa Rome🧸o in 2019 and finished 17th in the championship, managing 14 points across 21 races with a best result of fifth place in Brazil.

The Italian🌃, who has been affiliated with Ferrari since 2017 off the back of a successful GP2 campaign, was ultimately overlooked for the Ferrari seat, although Binotto insists he remains part of its💜 plans.

“Antonio is a boy whom I res🧜pect 🦄a lot,” Binotto said during an interview with Sky Sport Italia.

“Last year he made his f🔯irst season in Formula 1, switching to Ferrari after a year I think it requires too much responsibility.

“He has tဣo keep his shoulders [high], we count on his growth and we will🎀 help him. He is part of our plans, but he still has to experience [more] in F1.”

Giovinazzi will conte✤st his sophomore F1 season alongside Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo in 2020, which marks the final year of Raikkonen’s contract at the Swiss outfit.

Giovinazzi's deal also runs out at t🐎he end of 2020 and he came under pressure to retain his seat for the upcoming campaign before a turnaround in form. 

Five of Ferrari’s junior drivers are set to compete in Formula 2 this year. Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott and Giuliano Alesi will be joined by reigning Formula 3 champion Robert Shwartzman and Marcus Armstrong - w✃ho finished runner-up in F3 - on the F2 grid.