03/08/2016
NEWS STORY
In the wake of James Allison's departure Ferrari is to adopt a horizontal technical structure.
While the appointment of Mattia Binotto (pictured), a Ferrari man through and through, is widely seen as a good thing, the fact is the Italian is an 'engine man' and does not have the relevant experience of aerodynamics and chassis, the team's current weak spots.
As the Italian team is leapfrogged in the standings by Red Bull, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, whilst insisting that Ferrari will not splash out on a 'star' technical director to replace Allison, will alter its management structure.
"He (Binotto) will work with the team to help improve the car," said Arrivabene, according to Motorsport.com. "All the technicians talk to each other, but the difference is very important: there will be no more of 'this is 'Mr X's' car'. There will be a car that will be the result of the co-operation between all the working groups involved in the project."
Despite speculation linking Ross Brawn with a consultation role, Arrivabene insists the plan is to promote from within whilst adopting a horizontal management structure.
"We are modifying our technical structure but we'll complete this operation only when we understand if we already have in the team engineers with untapped capacity," he said.
"I think that we have some talent, the question I ask myself though is, 'why, if you have these skilled people, does their talent not come out?' If you have good engineers but they spend time on less important jobs it is clear that we are losing important opportunities.
"Our role is to show the target, and to make sure that the objectives are to be achieved," he continued. "If the concepts are clear, I think we don't need to look outside Maranello for new engineers. We are not looking for the mega-talent.
"When there is a figure like a mega-talent, it is normal for all the technical team to follow what he says. But we have not this kind of man. We are working on a new horizontal structure and the coordinator is Mattia Binotto."