Italian media pinpoints two possible replacements for David Sanchez as Ferrari Head of Aerodynamics

Bahrain, bitter awakening
Ferrari’s 2023 immediately started uphill, despite the great expectations brought about by the change at the top of the team, with the appointment of Frederic Vasseur in place of Mattia Binotto, and the presentation of the new SF-23 with a great show, which took place at Ferrari’s home track in Fiorano and led the fans to dream of a great season.

However, the bitter result of the Bahrain GP brought everyone back down to earth and gave way to the third stage of an internal revolution that had begun in the off-season with the signing of Frederic Vasseur and continued with Inaki Rueda, who is no longer in charge of the Ferrari strategy department. This time the name that ends its collaboration with the Maranello team is that of David Sanchez, now the former head of Ferrari aerodynamics. His resignation also reported yesterday by the Italian national newspapers. Stefano Piatti from La Repubblica tried to analyze the situation that is emerging in Maranello, speaking of an “incomplete revolution”.

Goodbye Sanchez, McLaren awaits him
“[…] Ferrari disappointed many at its debut in Bahrain, to the point of making someone think that another year without a Formula 1 title (16 years since the title has been missing from Maranello) is looking ever more likely. It can’t be like this, […], there’s time to recover. But the inferiority shown as compared Red Bull aroused alarm, an anguish that brought with it the first consequences. Since yesterday David Sanchez, the head of aerodynamics, one of the technicians who had contributed most to the design of the last two single-seaters, […], is no longer working for Ferrari. […]. On paper he is the one who decided to leave, he will have to undergo the usual gardening leave […] and then move in a few months […] he will most likely join McLaren […] ”.

Incomplete revolution: the replacement will almost certainly be internal
“[…]. David Sanchez is an important name, very close to Mattia Binotto, […], and is the second head to fall in 2023, after that of Inaki Rueda […]. The new divorce suggests there is a plan to change desired by Frederic Vasseur, perhaps also driven by results that are not up to par. […]. The problem is that, if there is to be a revolution, it can only be incomplete at the moment. David Sanchez’s replacement can only come from within Maranello […]. This is why we are talking about Diego Tondi, head of development, who seems favourite ahead of Fabio Montecchi, engineer in charge of the chassis. A figure with an immediately very important task: that of recovering the gap to Red Bull. And it’s not an easy task” – the Italian media concluded.

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