October 1st marked a turning point in Maranello. From that day, Loic Serra settled into the offices of Ferrari’s Racing Department as the technical director of the chassis area. His arrival, long-awaited, has been much discussed and written about. The Frenchman, originally from Nancy, is the man chosen by team principal Frederic Vasseur to usher in a new era, the fruits of which are expected next year and especially the following year when F1 will face a true regulatory revolution. In the meantime, Loic Serra is adapting to a whole new environment: for two weeks, he has been learning about the Maranello universe after a long career, first at Michelin, then BMW-Sauber, and finally Mercedes, where he was a key player from 2010 to 2023.
His past with the most successful team in recent GP history is a guarantee. This is why his fellow countryman Frederic Vasseur decided to bet on Loic Serra, luring him away from his friend Toto Wolff, with the condition that he could start working at the factory as soon as possible. This move pushed his predecessor, Italian aerodynamicist Enrico Cardile, to move to Aston Martin, drawn by a significant financial offer. It will be a big challenge for Loic Serra, who has never held the role of technical director in Formula 1, despite having a broad skill set that spans tires, suspensions, and vehicle dynamics. It is precisely this vast experience that convinced Frederic Vasseur. Ferrari’s negotiation with Adrian Newey came later and was driven by the fact that the genius was on the market after his unexpected departure from Red Bull, but the deal fell through.
In his first weeks at Maranello, Loic Serra has already started working with those who will be his closest collaborators: particularly Fabio Montecchi, chief engineer of the project; Dario Deutsch, the new head of vehicle concept and technical innovation; and Diego Tondi, head of aerodynamics. The goal is to lay the foundation for the organization that will take full effect next season. Loic Serra will not only focus on the 2026 car but will also contribute immediately to the development of the 2025 car, which is in the final stages of design. This car is known by the code name 677 or as “the car for Lewis Hamilton.”
Next year will mark the arrival of seven-time Formula 1 world champion at Ferrari, and Loic Serra will be reunited with the English driver, whom he knows well from the golden seasons of Mercedes’ world titles. There is hope that a successful partnership can be rekindled. In the meantime, the French engineer is focused on working with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, particularly with the Monegasque driver, who will remain a reference point alongside Lewis Hamilton. Recently, the Monegasque driver tested the 2025 Pirelli tires during tests at the Mugello circuit, which also involved Red Bull and McLaren. These tests are crucial for gathering useful data for decisions that will be made regarding the 677 car’s chassis and suspension.
But in parallel, there is the present to think about and the last six races of the championship, starting with Sunday’s United States GP in Austin. For now, Loic Serra is not expected to be present at the track, as he is focused on his work at Maranello. The same goes for Jerome D’Ambrosio, former Mercedes, who has taken on the role of deputy team principal alongside Frederic Vasseur, a highly strategic position. Ferrari will debut a new floor in the United States, which the engineers have been working on for about six weeks since Charles Leclerc’s triumph at Monza. They are confident that they have finally resolved the annoying porpoising issue at high speeds and added more performance to the SF-24. Everything tested and produced from now on will also be useful for next season’s car. The Maranello team could truly become the decisive factor in the title battle between Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Lando Norris’s McLaren.
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