Ferrari reshuffles to work on 2013, 2014 projects

After missing out on F1 honours in 2012, Ferrari has decided to revise its working methods in a bid to beat Red Bull and McLaren in coming years.

Although Fernando Alonso remained in championship contention until the final round of the 20-race schedule, and Ferrari eventually beat McLaren to second spot in the constructors' table, the Scuderia's F2012 was seldom the best car in the field and, with a change in the regulations looming for 2014, decided that a new way of thinking was needed to ensure that it was setting the pace rather than chasing it.

"For a few months now, we have been working on a programme of reorganisation along with the introduction of new methodologies, especially concerning the wind tunnel," team principal Stefano Domenicali explained, "As you know, we are rebuilding the Maranello facility, which will be closed until August. Until then, we will use the Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne.

"We have also adopted a better method of splitting up the work between those who run the wind tunnel and those who should concentrate more on the creative side of the job. This year, we saw that when we do too many things at the same time, maybe we are not efficient enough.

"As regards the design, we have decided, particularly in light of the unusual demands we will face in 2013, when we will have a completely new project to work on for the future, to have two coordinators. Simone Resta, an engineer who has developed his career in Maranello and is very effective, will work on the 2013 car, while Fabio Montecchi will deal with the one for the following year. Nikolas Tombazis continues as chief designer.

"We are well aware that we must start off with a more competitive car, as our president has demanded. Clearly, we have only been concentrating all our efforts on the new one from a few weeks before the final race, given we pushed right to the end on this year's."

Whilst the new Ferrari could be one of the first to launch, Domenicali admitted that, as is usual, the car seen on track in Jerez and Barcelona will not be the one that faces up to the opposition in Melbourne.

"The 2013 car will be launched at the very end of January or the early days of February," he confirmed, "As usual, the first one will be just a launch version, while the complete one will be seen in the final days of testing or in Australia, so as to make the most of all the time available."