After a tumultuous 2014 season for Ferrari, who hoped to challenge for the title this year yet have heavily under-achieved, their season has ended with more upheaval for the famous team. In a year which has seen team principal Stefano Domenicalli and star driver Fernando Alonso leave the team, now Domenicalli's replacement Marco Mattiacci has also been replaced by Maurizio Arrivabene.
Mattiacci struggled as he was drafted in to take charge of the struggling F1 team in April, despite him having no previous motorsport management experience. The team continued to struggle and his relationship with Fernando Alonso deteriorated to the point he wanted out of the team. It now appears Ferrari have decided to go in a different direction by appointing Maurizio Arrivabene, a senior executive with long time Ferrari sponsor Phillip Morris. Arrivabene is also a F1 commission member.
The team have a long term relationship with Arrivabene, although it will be tough to Arrivabene to come in and manage a Ferrari team in rebuilding mode after a very difficult 2014 season. It appears Mattiacci has now left Ferrari completely, after only 8 months in charge of the F1 team.
Ferrari announced the move in a press statement released earlier this morning, which stated "We decided to appoint Maurizio Arrivabene because, at this historic moment in time for the Scuderia and for Formula 1, we need a person with a thorough understanding not just of Ferrari but also of the governance mechanisms and requirements of the sport, Maurizio has a unique wealth of knowledge: he has been extremely close to the Scuderia for years and, as a member of the F1 Commission, is also keenly aware of the challenges we are facing. He has been a constant source of innovative ideas focused on revitalisation of Formula 1."
The statement went on to add "His managerial experience on a highly complex and closely regulated market is also of great importance, and will help him manage and motivate the team. I am delighted to have been able to secure his leadership for our racing activities. We would also like to thank Marco Mattiacci for his service to Ferrari in the last 15 years and we wish him well in his future endeavours."
Arrivabene will now have the entire off-season to work with the team and drivers Sebastien Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen and integrate himself with the team, as they will be pushing to avenge a poor 2014 season, which was their first winless season since 1993. As for Mattiacci it appears he's been chewed up and spat out by the Ferrari system, although he will not be short of job offers within the car industry, after his stellar previous record with Ferrari North America. Hopefully this move will prove beneficial for all parties. What are your thoughts on the sudden change of team principal?
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