Heads continue to roll at Scuderia Ferrari
Fri, Dec 19 2014
Under the direction of new chairman Sergio Marchionne and team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, the Maranello-based outfit is undergoing a purge in its ranks. Ferrari has fired its veteran engineering director Pat Fry (pictured above at left), its chief designer Nicolas Tombazis (center) and its tire guru Hirohide Hamashima (whom the team picked up shortly after Bridgestone left the sport, not pictured).
In their places, Ferrari has named appropriate replacements, and has shuffled some additional staff around. F1 journalist Alberto Antonini, for example, has taken over the press office from Renato Bisignani who will now run the Scuderia's new commercial department. More vital, however, is James Allison, a longtime F1 engineer who previously worked for Ferrari for five years and returned from Lotus last year to take up position as the team's new technical director – too late to influence last season's chassis but now charged with developing next year's.
Whether the radical reshuffling of its staff will be enough to reverse the team's fortunes, nobody can say for certain at this point. But without a single grand prix victory this past season, things can hardly get any worse for what historically has been the most victorious team in all of motorsport.
The Scuderia Ferrari has been reorganized
Maranello, 16 December – Within a few days from his arrival Maurizio Arrivabene, Managing Director of Ferrari's Gestione Sportiva and Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari, has restructured his team with a flatter structure and clear assignment of responsibilities.
James Allison is the Technical Director with two Italian engineers and home grown Scuderia talent reporting to him: Chief Designer Simone Resta and Power Unit Director Mattia Binotto, the latter will be supported by Chief Designer Power Unit Lorenzo Sassi, among others. Furthermore James Allison will direct track engineering activities ad interim.
Therefore he will be responsible for all technical aspects of delivering the Scuderia's drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, as well as the newly appointed test driver and third driver Esteban Gutierrez, with the most competitive Formula 1 car possible.
Furthermore, the Scuderia's Formula 1 activities will be managed by Massimo Rivola, while GT and Corse Clienti racing will be managed by Antonio Coletta.
The Ferrari Driver Academy will still be managed by Luca Baldisserri, reporting directly to Maurizio Arrivabene. In addition, Arrivabene will manage the newly founded Commercial Department of the Scuderia ad interim. Renato Bisignani, who until now was the head of Scuderia Ferrari's Press Office, will join the new department as Marketing Manager and Acquisition.
The press office of the Scuderia will be run by Alberto Antonini, a seasoned Formula 1 journalist and contributor to newspapers and magazines as well as TV commentator for RAI and Sky Italia. Antonini will also oversee the newly created Scuderia Ferrari digital team.
Nikolas Tombazis and Pat Fry will be leaving the Scuderia.
Maranello, 16 December – Within a few days from his arrival Maurizio Arrivabene, Managing Director of Ferrari's Gestione Sportiva and Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari, has restructured his team with a flatter structure and clear assignment of responsibilities.
James Allison is the Technical Director with two Italian engineers and home grown Scuderia talent reporting to him: Chief Designer Simone Resta and Power Unit Director Mattia Binotto, the latter will be supported by Chief Designer Power Unit Lorenzo Sassi, among others. Furthermore James Allison will direct track engineering activities ad interim.
Therefore he will be responsible for all technical aspects of delivering the Scuderia's drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, as well as the newly appointed test driver and third driver Esteban Gutierrez, with the most competitive Formula 1 car possible.
Furthermore, the Scuderia's Formula 1 activities will be managed by Massimo Rivola, while GT and Corse Clienti racing will be managed by Antonio Coletta.
The Ferrari Driver Academy will still be managed by Luca Baldisserri, reporting directly to Maurizio Arrivabene. In addition, Arrivabene will manage the newly founded Commercial Department of the Scuderia ad interim. Renato Bisignani, who until now was the head of Scuderia Ferrari's Press Office, will join the new department as Marketing Manager and Acquisition.
The press office of the Scuderia will be run by Alberto Antonini, a seasoned Formula 1 journalist and contributor to newspapers and magazines as well as TV commentator for RAI and Sky Italia. Antonini will also oversee the newly created Scuderia Ferrari digital team.
Nikolas Tombazis and Pat Fry will be leaving the Scuderia.
By Noah Joseph
See also: Ferrari picks up ex-Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez as test pilot, Autoblog's ultimate holiday rides, Fiat Chrysler denies rumors that Ferrari SpA is moving to London.