Ferrari overhauls chassis department ahead of 2021 F1 season
Ferrari has revamped its chassis department in a bid to ramp up its Formula 1 progress in 2021.
After a challenging 2020 campaign, where the Italian squad was hampered by a down-on-power engine and a car that was too draggy, it has finalised an overhaul of the way it operates.
It will maintain a reporting structure underneath team principal Mattia Binotto with distinct heads of departments, but has decided to reorganise how its chassis department works.
Following the departure of former chassis head Simone Resta to Haas at the end of last year, Enrico Cardile has been formally put in charge of that area.
He will work as a department chief alongside power unit head Enrico Gualtieri, sporting director Laurent Mekies and supply chain head Gianmaria Fulgenzi.
While the processes there will remain the same, Ferrari’s chassis department will be split up into four new areas – with the hope being that this will boost the ability of the team to make improvements.
The four areas will be vehicle concept (headed by David Sanchez), chassis performance engineering (Enrico Cardile), chassis project engineering (Fabio Montecchi) and vehicle operations (Diego Ioverno).
Cardile’s area here will also encompass race trackside engineering work.
In a bid to further help ease some of the burden that Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has faced since taking over the team at the start of 2019, there have been changes in the commercial area too.
The commercial, marketing and events department will now be part of its brand diversification area, and will be led by Nicola Boari.
Ferrari endured a disappointing run to sixth place in the constructors’ championship last year, its worst result for decades. It failed to win any races, but Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel did manage to grab some podium finishes.
The team is hopeful, however, that a new power unit and tweaks to its car can help it recover ground prior to the rules shake up coming for 2022.
Ferrari is due to hold a team launch event on Friday, featuring drivers Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, before revealing its new SF21 on the eve of pre-season testing next month.
Related video
Previous article
Red Bull's new RB16B has "good potential" - Perez
Next article
Red Bull's missing RB16B fuels tech secret intrigue
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Teams | Ferrari |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
Why Russell was right to be wrong about Bottas after Imola F1 clash
George Russell and Valtteri Bottas' collision at Imola on Sunday prompted fury in the Formula 1 paddock. But Russell's carefully-worded heartfelt statement later, acknowledging that his initial response was wrong, proved the right move
How Verstappen and Hamilton’s Imola clash sets the tone for 2021
In Max Verstappen's Formula 1 career to date, he has been cast as the 'pretender', an acknowledged top-line performer without the car to regularly challenge Lewis Hamilton. But that no longer applies in 2021, and the start to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was the most telling signal yet of what we can expect from their duel this year
How "overwhelming" McLaren move has given Ricciardo a new verve
Daniel Ricciardo has found a new lease of life at McLaren – a move that’s been years in the making, as he explains to STUART CODLING…
How 2021's midfielders have taken lessons from F1's top teams
Formula 1’s latest Imola adventure turned into an expensive trip for many teams due to several crashes throughout the weekend. While balancing the books is an added factor in 2021 with the cost cap, a few midfield teams have cashed in early on development investments.
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
