Ferrari seeks replacement for Enrico Cardile
A few weeks ago, Enrico Cardile, head of Ferrari's chassis and aerodynamics department, announced he was leaving the Maranello team to join Aston Martin. Acting as his replacement, Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur is looking for a successor.
Movement is brewing at Ferrari. After the British Grand Prix, Enrico Cardile, the former technical director of chassis and aerodynamics of the Italian team, surprised everyone by announcing his immediate departure to join Aston Martin. This decision, accepted by Ferrari, is causing upheaval within the Maranello team. Frederic Vasseur, taking the position temporarily, is actively seeking to find a replacement and has been in discussions for several weeks.
I will fulfill the role during the summer break because it’s easier, but just after the summer break, we will announce the new organization,” Vasseur revealed to the media, emphasizing his team’s ability to overcome this departure without feeling lost.
At the end, we have a group of more than 200 people working on these cars, and with 200 people, one person leaving is not always a drama. I always emphasize that individuals are less important than the group. Group stability is essential, and the other people work very well together. We have shown that we work as a team in difficult times,” added Vasseur.
Even if the situation seems under control, the urgency of finding a replacement is crucial to best prepare for the future, notably the 2026 single-seater project. Vasseur, with a touch of humor, declared to have « some names with five letters » on his list of potential replacements for Cardile.
Adrian Newey on the Ferrari list
Among them, Adrian Newey’s name naturally stands out. The British engineer will be leaving Red Bull at the end of this season and will be free to move elsewhere from April 2025. Despite stagnating negotiations due to economic and strategic differences, Ferrari is still looking to recruit Newey, who would be a major asset in preparing for the new FIA regulations in 2026.
Recruiting Newey is proving to be tricky, as the Chief Technology Officer of Red Bull Racing is reluctant to leave England, his home country, and has recently visited the facilities of Aston Martin, showcasing advanced relations between Newey and the Silverstone team.
A new approach given by Frédéric Vasseur
This potential recruit testifies to the change in strategy instigated by Frédéric Vasseur. Unlike Binotto, the former boss of Alfa Romeo believes it is necessary to bring more external expertise to Ferrari, hence his willingness to recruit foreign staff to inject fresh blood into the team, such as the recent arrival of Frenchman Cédric Sambardier from Red Bull.
Vasseur continues to show unwavering confidence in his team, stating that Cardile’s departure will not affect the morale of the technical team that has produced fantastic work since his arrival.
« I do not want to pay attention to just one event. In 12 months, we have reduced the gap with the winner by a third thanks to the work done at the factory. I have a lot of confidence in the team, but we must continue because I am not satisfied with the result, I am not happy to be 20 seconds behind the winner. Last year in Hungary, we finished 65 seconds behind », said Vasseur.
This performance gain must continue if Ferrari wants to win titles again and regain its place as a leader in Formula 1.
