Following
yesterday's Ferrari board meeting in Turin where Jean Todt
was confirmed as CEO and Amedeo Felisa as General Manager,
today comes further details of management restructuring,
this time at Gestone Sportina, where Stefano Domenicali
confirmed as Sporting Director for 2007 while Mario Almondo
is promoted to the post of Technical Director. Todt will
remain as the Scuderia's Managing Director in the "interim".
When the
chequered flag was waved at the end of the Brazilian Grand
Prix and the 2006 F1 season came to an finally came to
close, it was not only the end of the racing year but also
the conclusion of an era at Scuderia Ferrari as Michael
Schumacher retired from racing, while McLaren driver Kimi
Raikkonen will come on board to replace him next year. With
the departure of the German - star who won five world titles
with Ferrari this decade - a whole swage of management
changes were expected, and a press release issued today by
Ferrari revealed initial details of the reshuffle: "Ferrari
announces that as of this 1st November, Ferrari S.p.A.
C.E.O. Jean Todt, will also take on, as an interim, the role
of Managing Director of the Gestione Sportiva, which will be
organised as follows: Sporting Director - Stefano Domenicali,
Technical Director - Mario Almondo," read the statement.
"Technical Department will be made up of Chassis Department,
headed up by Aldo Costa, while Gilles Simon will be
responsible for Engine Department, with both men reporting
to Mario Almondo. Ferrari offers its most heartfelt thanks
to Ross Brawn and Paolo Martinelli for their immense
contribution in the drafting of an extraordinary chapter in
the history of the Scuderia and motor sport, which has
produced a tally of eleven world titles (six Constructors'
and five Drivers,' all of these with Michael Schumacher) and
of around ninety wins in Formula 1 Grands Prix." After years
of hard and demanding work, Ross Brawn has decided to turn
his attention to his personal life, while Paolo Martinelli
will take on an important role within the Fiat Group: to
them go best wishes for a satisfying future," concluded the
press release.
|
|
The departure of the the Scuderia's chief strategist
Ross Brawn (above) had been long expected, while
engine wizard Paolo Martinelli was also rumoured to
be set to depart. |
|
|
|
Stefano Domenicali was today confirmed as Sporting
Director for next year, and will take on more
responsibilities. He joined Ferrari in 1991. Above:
Domenicali (right) with Michael Schumacher and
Felipe Massa at the San Marino Grand Prix. |
|
The departure of the teams' chief strategist Ross Brawn had
been long expected, while engine wizard Paolo Martinelli was
also rumoured to be set to depart. Stefano Domenicali is
confirmed as Sporting Director for next year, and in an
expansion of his position he will take on more
responsibilities. He joined Ferrari in 1991. Initially
working in the roadcar division's administration department
he switched to the Scuderia to head up the redevelopment of
the Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit.
Once the circuit rebuilding programme was concluded 41-year
old Domenicali, who is an American University graduate and
is tipped by many observers close to Maranello as being to
rise to the top at Ferrari, was initially employed by the
Formula 1 team as the Head of Personnel (he was appointed to
this position in 1995), then he added the duties of
sponsorship liaison (in 1995), before a five year stint as
team manager (1996-2001) beckoned. He hen took charge of the
team's logistics (in 2001) before bouncing back as he was
promoted to Sporting Director, with a particular role of
co-ordinating activities between the team and the sporting
authorities (2002).
Mario Almondo, who has wide range of technical experience
across the board at Maranello, meanwhile now steps up
a place further on the ladder with the team to become
Technical Director, replacing Brawn, who has expressed a
wish to spend more time with his family. Almondo joined
Ferrari in 1993 as Organisation and Personnel Manager,
before being appointed Production and Quality Manager a year
later. In 2000 he joined the Scuderia as Industrial
Director.
|
|
|