There was no need to wait until September 5 to announce Ferrari’s new organizational structure. After Enrico Cardile left his role as technical director of the chassis department to move to Aston Martin as CTO, it would have been enough to appoint Loic Serra without Fred Vasseur’s interim period (who can also list the Monza victory as technical director on his resume).
The Frenchman had hinted that a new face from outside would arrive in Maranello, but instead, he placed his trust in a fellow countryman who had already been officially confirmed earlier this summer as a new addition to the team alongside deputy team principal, Jerome D’Ambrosio.
With hopes for Adrian Newey fading (Ferrari was the one to decline the English genius’ offer), the Scuderia’s management worked to provide stability to the Racing Department.
The Maranello team issued a statement this morning on the new organization: “Scuderia Ferrari HP announces that the role of Technical Director Chassis has been assigned to Loic Serra. As previously communicated, the French technician, born in 1972, will join the team starting October 1. Loic, in this new role, will report directly to Team Principal, Fred Vasseur.”
“Serra will oversee the Chassis Project Engineering division, led by Fabio Montecchi; Vehicle Performance, led by Marco Adurno; Aerodynamics, led by Diego Tondi; Track Engineering, led by Matteo Togninalli; and Chassis Operations, led by Diego Ioverno, who also retains the role of Sporting Director. The role of Technical Director Power Unit remains entrusted to Enrico Gualtieri, who will continue to report directly to Fred Vasseur.”
Loic Serra is therefore the technician assuming a role he has never held in his career, but he has the full confidence of the team principal. Fred took his time to assign new responsibilities and functions to a highly experienced team (with salary adjustments, given that several technicians from this staff received important offers from rival teams but chose to stay at Maranello).
Ferrari’s response, capable of bringing a winning upgrade package to the Italian GP even without a technical director, demonstrates that this core team is able to provide the necessary support to the Frenchman, who will join a well-oiled and functioning structure starting October 1.
