In the latest episode of the reality show that’s the Ferrari F1 Team and their so-far abysmal performance in the 2020 Formula 1 season, we bring you yet more news of the Scuderia attempting to right the listing ship. The Team announced today that a major organizational endeavor is underway to restructure the technical department with a view to "speed up the design and development on the car-performance front," according to under-fire team boss Mattia Binotto.
If You Can’t Beat’em...
Taking a page out of Mercedes and Red Bull, Ferrari now wants to implement a simpler and more focused chain of command and empower each department head with the necessary powers to reach their objectives. This means that shared responsibilities will no longer exist as such, and each and every task will have an “owner”. This will, in turn, identify the weak links in various areas so that the underlying causes can then be clearly identified and addressed.
Also, a new department dubbed the “Performance Development Department” has been created, headed by the former Head of aerodynamics Enrico Cardile. Power-unit boss Enrico Gualteri, sporting director Laurent Mekies and chassis engineering boss Simone Resta remain in their positions.
Lean And Mean?
Ferrari is also reaching out to its past and the glorious early-2000’s era by creating a prominent role for Rory Byrne, the chief designer of the multiple championship-winning cars of that era in the hands of Michael Schumacher. The highly-regarded Byrne will focus on the development of Ferrari’s 2022 car which will carry the Scuderia's hopes into F1’s new era that will usher in vastly different rules and design parameters.
The 76-year old Byrne is currently serving as an advisor to the team and as a mentor to chief designer Simone Resta. Byrne-designed cars have won ninety-nine Grands Prix, seven constructors' titles and seven drivers' titles.
The Future Is Now
Cynics might argue that Ferrari’s current actions are nothing more than window dressing or a type of knee-jerk reaction to a string of poor results in order to appease their fan base and sponsors. Others may contend that this amounts to nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as the SF1000 is fundamentally flawed and will be unable to contend for a title, at least not while the mighty Mercedes reigns supreme.
Regardless, everyone would agree that the Maranello outfit is in dire need of improvements in its overall performance, and the first step towards that improvement is accountability. Ferrari is looking in the mirror and is willing to undergo radical surgery, surely the first of many such operations to come.
Source: BBC