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Ferrari to adopt McLaren-style technical structure
Ferrari has no plans to sign a big-name star to replace James Allison as its technical chief, with team boss Maurizio Arrivabene hinting about a different approach to its technical structure instead.
Jonathan Noble Franco Nugnes
Edited: Aug 3, 2016, 12:00 PM
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The Maranello-based outfit has suffered a blow with the departure of Allison, and is under pressure to turn around its campaign after slipping behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship.
But although Allison's immediate successor Mattia Binotto does not have extensive experience of aerodynamics nor chassis development, Arrivabene has said that a new approach to its technical operation means he is the right man to lead things.
"He will work with the team to help improve the car," said Arrivabene. "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."
Looking within
While Ferrari had considered roles for Ross Brawn and Toro Rosso's James Key, neither have shown any interest in getting involved at Maranello.
Arrivabene has explained that the plan now is for a different way of doing things that will increase the input from all its engineers.
There will be a more horizontal structure, with the technical operation headed up by several key figures – similar to what McLaren has with Peter Prodromou, Tim Goss and Matt Morris.
"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," said Arrivabene, in reference to a push to see if there are junior staff members who can be promoted.
"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] if it 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. 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."
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