The news was already in the air, but now it seems like a done deal. The Head of Vehicle Concept David Sánchez has in fact decided to leave Ferrari after Mattia Binotto departed with the Italian side at the end of the 2022 season, resigning after more than 10 years of working in Maranello. The news was reported by Motorsport Italy, which also revealed that the French engineer will join an English team after observing the classic gardening period. Ferrari therefore loses another important figure, which will certainly have an impact on the development of the SF23 over the course of the season.
After Mattia Binotto, David Sanchez also resigned and left Ferrari
A worrying trend has been observed in Maranello in recent months. After the exit of Mattia Binotto, who had left the team last December to make way for Frederic Vasseur, David Sanchez also parts ways with Italy, with England as his new destination. Although the team that will welcome the Frenchman is not known, the decision seems to have been made some time ago and would therefore have nothing to do with the bitter disappointment seen in the first round of the 2023 Formula 1 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix.
David Sanchez arrived in Maranello more than a decade in 2012, replacing Dirk De Beer four years later. Then in 2019, he was promoted to leading the entire aerodynamics department. From 2021 until now, the technician has held the role of Chief Engineer, leading the design and development of the F1-75 and the current SF-23 car. Furthermore, David Sanchez is one of the key figures, together with Simone Resta, who worked on the successful SF-70H, one of the best Formula 1 cars made by Ferrari in the turbo-hybrid era.
The news has not yet been officially confirmed by Ferrari, but the problem now is another one. With the role of Head of Vehicle Concept now vacant, Frederic Vasseur will have to find a suitable replacement quickly, in order to avoid throwing away the 2023 season as well. A season which started with high hopes, and with very high expectations for the new SF-23, which is but now turning into a potential nightmare.
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While Simone Resta remains an option and his possible return to Ferrari was rumoured ever since Mattia Binotto’s departure was confirmed, there is also a new name reported by the Italian media. It seems that Frederic Vasseur is considering the appointment of one of his former team members from Alfa Romeo: Alessandro Cinelli joined Alfa Romeo as Head of Aerodynamics in 2019 under the guidance of the French manager, after previously working as Head of Aero Experimental Group for Scuderia Ferrari and covering various other positions within the Aerodynamics department during a 17-year tenure with the Maranello team.
