New Scuderia Ferrari Boss Continues Restructuring of F1 Team

Six years without a title is a lot for the oldest, and admittedly most famous, Formula 1 team. The 2014 has been really disappointing; despite Fernando Alonso’s spirited driving, Ferrari finished fourth, with 216 points against champion Mercedes’ 701 and not a single win to show for.

The newly appointed managing director of Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva and team principal of Scuderia Ferrari, Maurizio Arrivabene, has decided to restructure the team with “a flatter structure and clear assignment of responsibilities”, as per Ferrari’s official statement.

Chief designer Nikolas Tombazis and engine boss Luca Marmorini have been fired and are being replaced by Simone Resta and technical director James Allison respectively (the latter as a interim solution). Moreover, the engine department will be headed by Mattia Binotto, to whom chief power unit designer Lorenzo Sassi will be reporting. Massimo Rivola stays as team manager and the Ferrari Driver Academy will still be overseen by Luca Baldisserri.

Arrivabene is the third Ferrari principal this year, after Stefano Domenicali, who resigned last April, and Marco Mattiacci, who stayed until the season’s end.

Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel had earlier replaced Fernando Alonso, who will drive for McLaren-Honda in 2015. Kimi Raikkonen stayed as Vettel’s team mate and Esteban Gutierez joined the team as a test and replacement driver.