Ferrari reorganizes its design methods
Ferrari has appointed two separate design coordinator positions for 2013 and 2014. This action is part of a desire, expressed by Luca di Montezemolo, to thoroughly improve the team's organization and working methods.
These last two seasons have been marked by Ferraris that are less competitive than their competitors at the start of the season, as Luca di Montezemolo admits: « What happened this year stems from the previous year. We want a car with the potential to win from the first race, which has not been the case these past two years ». Since 2008, Ferrari has shown an average delay of a hundred points on the leader in the constructors’ championship. Stefano Domenicali explains this fact as a lack of efficiency in the team’s technical organization: « This year, we have found that when we do too many things at once, we probably lose efficiency ».
While Nikolas Tombazis remains the chief designer, Ferrari has decided to entrust the responsibility to two contenders for the next two seasons: Simone Resta and Fabio Montecchi. Resta, a Ferrari engineer primarily based in Maranello in recent years, will be responsible for developing the car in 2013, while Fabio Montecchi will focus on developing the following year’s car based on the developments implemented in 2013. Fabio Montecchi carries a significant responsibility as he is an exclusive resource for anticipating the 2014 challenges (major changes in engine regulations) while capitalizing on the experience gained in 2013. Nevertheless, the two roles should not clash but rather complement each other, as the 2013 regulations mainly concern aerodynamics rather than engine development.
The reorganization at Ferrari does not stop there as Stefano Domenicali also indicates a better coordination of design and testing aspects in the development process of future cars: « We have also adopted a better method of task sharing between those working in the wind tunnel and those in charge of the more creative part ». Moreover, after identifying some correlation problems, the wind tunnel is being redesigned, as well as all associated testing procedures. Wind tunnel tests are therefore temporarily relocated to a Toyota Wind Tunnel in Cologne.
Finally, Domenicali emphasizes the need for a more creative approach from these teams for a more competitive car from the start of the season: « We will have to get as close as possible to the limits of the regulations while keeping this year’s positive aspects, or improving them, because others will not be idle but rather flirt with illegality as in 2009 with the double diffuser. Therefore, we must adopt a different, more creative approach ».
