Ferrari Loses Head of Vehicle Concept After Poor Bahrain Grand Prix Results
David Sanchez, Ferrari's Head of Vehicle Concept, has decided to leave the Italian racing team. Sanchez's resignation comes after spending over a decade at the company's headquarters in Maranello, Italy. The news of his departure is likely to have a significant impact on the Scuderia's current F1 season, particularly on the development of their SF-23 vehicle.
Sanchez began his career at Ferrari in October 2012. Four years later, he took over from Dirk de Beer and eventually took over the aerodynamics department of the Scuderia in 2019. Sanchez was responsible for the design and development of last year's F1-75 and 2023's SF-23.
However, with Sanchez's departure, Ferrari will need to look within their ranks for replacements, at least in the short term. Senior figures from other teams in the sector are currently bound by long periods of garden leave, making it challenging for Ferrari to find suitable candidates outside of the company. Even Sanchez himself will sit on garden leave now, according to Motorsport.com.
Sanchez's exit is not expected to be a reaction to the team's disappointing performance at the recent Bahrain Grand Prix, but rather a decision that has been brewing for some time. The French engineer is rumoured to be heading to an English team for his next role. Mercedes, maybe? Or Aston Martin?
Sanchez was one of the reference figures of the Binotto era at Ferrari, and he played a vital role in the team's resurgence in 2017. Together with Simone Resta, he helped design the SF70H vehicle, which brought the team back to the top of the standings.
With Sanchez's departure, Ferrari will undoubtedly feel the loss of one of their most talented minds. It remains to be seen how the team will adapt to this change and whether they will be able to find a suitable replacement in the short term. However, for now, it is clear that Sanchez's resignation will leave a void in the team's development program.