Ferrari announces restructure of F1 technical department

The Ferrari Formula 1 team has established a new ‘performance development department’ as part of a restructure to its technical department following a difficult start to the 2020 season.

Ferrari has endured a tough opening three rounds to the delayed 2020 campaign, with its new SF1000 proving to be well off the pace of the  team’s rivals.

The Italian outfit has managed just a single podium from the first races in Austria and Hungary and subsequently sits fifth in the constructors’ championship having scored just 27 points so far.

Earlier this week, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto made it clear that sacking people is not what his team needs to turn its fortunes around amid speculation in Italian media that his position could be under threat.

Ferrari says the changes to its technical department have been made in order to “render it more effective and assure a more holistic emphasis on performance development”.

Enrico Cardile will step up from his previous role as Head of Aerodynamics and Vehicle Project manager to head up the new performance department.

"As hinted at a few days ago, we are making changes to the technical side of the organisation so as to speed up the design and development on the car performance front,” Binotto said.

“A change of direction was needed to define clear lines of responsibility and working processes, while reaffirming the company’s faith in its technical talent pool.

“The department run by Enrico Cardile will be able to count on the experience of Rory Byrne and established engineers such as David Sanchez. It will be the cornerstone of the car’s development.

“We believe Ferrari personnel are of the highest level and we have nothing to envy about our main competitors in this respect, but we had to make a decisive change, raising the bar in terms of the responsibilities of the department heads.

“We have said it several times, but it’s worth repeating: we have started to lay the foundations of a process which should lead to a new and enduring winning cycle,” he added.

“It will take some time and we will suffer setbacks like the one we are experiencing right now in terms of results and performance.

“However, we must react to these shortcomings with strength and determination to get back to being at the very top of this sport as soon as possible. This is what we all want and what our fans all over the world expect of us”.

Ferrari’s other main areas will remain unchanged, with Enrico Gualtieri in charge of the power unit, Laurent Mekies as sporting director and Simone Resta continuing to lead the chassis engineering department.