Aston Martin F1 rumored to target key Ferrari director

The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has reportedly initiated a move to recruit Enrico Cardile, the noted Technical Director from Ferrari, to their Silverstone base.

The British team, under the leadership of owner Lawrence Stroll, is reportedly actively courting Ferrari’s Technical Director, Enrico Cardile, in a bid to fortify their technical team, according to Autosport. This move could significantly impact the Constructors’ Championship and signals a potentially major shift in the sport’s technical battleground, particularly as rumors of other key technical personnel relocations, including Adrian Newey, surface.

Cardile, recognized for his influential role in developing Ferrari’s chassis and aerodynamics, especially in the SF-24, could bring a wealth of expertise to Aston Martin. This potential shake-up comes at a time when F1 might witness significant changes with Adrian Newey’s rumored move to Ferrari or Mercedes by 2025, opening a phase of strategic shuffles among the top F1 teams.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur recently commented on the Maranello-based squad’s coherence and the potential disruption such high-level changes might cause. He explained:

“I speak to everybody in the paddock when we meet, because we are well educated! On this point, I don’t want to make any comment because every single answer could be interpreted.

“The most important [thing] is the stability of the team. As I said before, we are doing a good job. We are going in the right direction.

“The most important for me is the stability of the group much more than individuals. I am really pleased with the current situation.”

Cardile’s potential integration into Aston Martin could enhance their capabilities notably around the aerodynamics and chassis optimization—areas where Cardile has excelled with Ferrari’s SF-24. The impact of his expertise could be pivotal in Aston Martin’s pursuit of improved performance.

Along with the potential new hire, the Silverstone-based squad recently extended two-time champion Fernando Alonso’s contract on a multi-year basis. Speaking about the extension, team principal Mike Krack commented, as quoted by Formula 1:

“Securing Fernando’s long-term future with Aston Martin Aramco is fantastic news. We have built a strong working relationship over the last 18 months and we share the same determination to see this project succeed.

“We have been in constant dialogue over the last few months and Fernando has been true to his word: when he decided he wanted to continue racing, he talked to us first. Fernando has shown he believes in us, and we believe in him.

“Fernando is hungry for success, driving better than ever, is fitter than ever, and is completely dedicated to making Aston Martin Aramco a competitive force.

“This multi-year agreement with Fernando takes us into 2026 when we begin our works power unit partnership with Honda. We look forward to creating more incredible memories and achieving further success together.”