Loic Serra is poised to be revealed as Ferrari’s new Technical Director as the team replicates the restructure that McLaren has experienced success with in Formula 1.
Prior to the summer break, Ferrari announced the anticipated news that Enrico Cardile was vacating his Technical Director position to pursue a move to Aston Martin.
Vasseur has assumed the responsibilities that come with the role as he revealed that news would come on tweaks to the technical division when the season restarts.
“The position during the summer break is the easiest one,” Vasseur said at the Hungarian Grand Prix. “After the summer break, we’ll announce the new organisation.”
Erstwhile Mercedes Technical Director Mike Elliott, who departed the German marque in late 2023, was touted as a potential candidate to replace Cardile in the team.
But according to Formu1a.uno, Elliott wasn’t a name that was on Vasseur’s radar. Instead, Ferrari’s solution to Cardile’s recent exit could lie with a person on its books.
Ferrari disclosed earlier this term that it has acquired Loic Serra’s services to become the team’s Head of Chassis Performance Engineering once he starts in October.
The Frenchman, who was Mercedes’ Head of Vehicle Performance, is set to oversee Track Engineering, Aero Development, Aero Operations and Vehicle Performance.
However, it has been reported that Serra could combine that role with a Technical Director position as Ferrari alters its technical ranks to adopt a three-pronged setup.
Serra would be in line to work along with Head of Aerodynamics Diego Tondi, who turned down a switch to Aston Martin, and Chief Project Engineer Fabio Montecchi.
Ferrari’s proposed revamped structure would mirror the composition that McLaren implemented last term to inspire a remarkable mid-season return to the sharp end.
Serra’s revised responsibilities come amid Ferrari being unsuccessful once more with recruiting the team’s long-standing “first and unattainable dream”, Pierre Wache.
Like his predecessor Mattia Binotto, Vasseur was unable to tempt Wache to leave his role as Red Bull’s Technical Director as the Frenchman has signed an extension.
Vasseur had hoped that Serra’s close relationship with Wache – the pair worked together at BMW Sauber – would be an aspect that could persuade the design genius.
But Wache, who will be depended on more as Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey departs next March, has elected to continue overseeing Red Bull’s technical team.
Serra will be in place as Lewis Hamilton makes his blockbuster move from Mercedes in 2025, though, with it having been claimed that he was a factor in his decision.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s technical department will be concentrating on the recurring bouncing problem that has undone the marque’s promising opening to the campaign.
The Maranello-based squad accelerated an amended floor at last month’s Hungarian GP which helped to alleviate the issue, but a longer-term solution is still required.
Formu1a.uno has learned that Ferrari is preparing to bring another upgraded floor to the Italian Grand Prix next month to “stabilise the platform to increase drivability”.
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