Ferrari are working intensely to build on their two victories (Melbourne and Monte Carlo) in 2024 so far. Most recently, the SF-24’s second upgrade package arrived in Spain. Whilst these updates underdperformaed last weekend, there is more pressing development at Ferrari. Enrico Cardile, Ferrari’s technical director, has accepted Aston Martin’s offer. After some persuasive phone calls and negotiations, the Italian engineer will join Aston Martin.
Enrico Cardile: A career of ups and downs at Ferrari – he is now right at the front
The Tuscan engineer started collaborating with Ferrari after finishing his degree thesis (Aerospace) back in 2002. He was then hired by the Italian company in 2005. His career at Ferrari began in Gran Turismo, with the design of cars such as the 458 Italia GT2 and GT3 and the 488 GTE and GT3.
In 2016, he moved to the Ferrari F1 headquarters as Head of Aero Development. The following year, he became Ferrari’s Vehicle Project Manager.
He thus became part of the group that tried to reawaken Ferrari after a difficult start to the hybrid era. Cardile’s arrival marked the beginning of the Scuderia’s return to regular victories in 2017 and 2018. This period was marked by important changes, though it was not without its challenges.
Over time, Enrico Cardile gained more power and esteem within the team. When Mattia Binotto became Team Principal, in addition to taking care of the chassis department, Cardile also became technical director in everything but name. He then effectively assumed the role of Chassis and Aerodynamics Technical Director with Frédéric Vasseur’s arrival last year.
Loic Serra will take on an expanded role in Ferrari’s 2025 and 2026 car
Like his predecessors, Frédéric Vasseur has also worked hard to further strengthen Maranello’s technical department. He has worked to hire senior engineers from other teams, although he maintained trust in the Scuderia’s team.
Ferrari’s offer to Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Waché is now known. However, Red Bull responded by cementing the Frenchman’s position within the team.
Vasseur’s most important coup, which we announced exclusively to you just under a year ago, was Loic Serra from Mercedes. According to Formu1a.uno, he will take over most of the functions currently in the hands of Enrico Cardile from October. This means he will be central to the development of 2025 and the new 2026 regulations.
Serra will start working in Maranello on October 1st. He has been announced as the Head of Chassis Performance Engineering.
The former Mercedes man is also, quite unusually, tasked with several other responsibilities, including – “the coordination of various departments, including Track Engineering, Aero Development, Aero Operations and Vehicle Performance,” as Ferrari confirmed in a press release last month.
Among the other senior figures of the team, Diego Tondi will remain the head of aerodynamics.
Cardile’s farewell is not linked to the incessant rumours about Ferrari’s interest in Adrian Newey. Newey has not made any decisions about his future.
The British spoken is in talks with several teams, including Williams. As reported by formu1a.uno, Adrian Newey is also in talks with Aston Martin. The British engineer is still evaluating his very extensive options.
In any case, Aston Martin and their long-standing efforts to sign Cardile, which we revealed several weeks ago, have proven successful.
