Following yesterday's Ferrari board meeting in Turin where Jean Todt was confirmed as CEO and Amedeo Felisa as General Manager, today comes further details of management restructuring, this time at Gestone Sportina, where Stefano Domenicali confirmed as Sporting Director for 2007 while Mario Almondo is promoted to the post of Technical Director. Todt will remain as the Scuderia's Managing Director in the "interim".

When the chequered flag was waved at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix and the 2006 F1 season came to an finally came to close, it was not only the end of the racing year but also the conclusion of an era at Scuderia Ferrari as Michael Schumacher retired from racing, while McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen will come on board to replace him next year. With the departure of the German - star who won five world titles with Ferrari this decade - a whole swage of management changes were expected, and a press release issued today by Ferrari revealed initial details of the reshuffle: "Ferrari announces that as of this 1st November, Ferrari S.p.A. C.E.O. Jean Todt, will also take on, as an interim, the role of Managing Director of the Gestione Sportiva, which will be organised as follows: Sporting Director - Stefano Domenicali, Technical Director - Mario Almondo," read the statement.

"Technical Department will be made up of Chassis Department, headed up by Aldo Costa, while Gilles Simon will be responsible for Engine Department, with both men reporting to Mario Almondo. Ferrari offers its most heartfelt thanks to Ross Brawn and Paolo Martinelli for their immense contribution in the drafting of an extraordinary chapter in the history of the Scuderia and motor sport, which has produced a tally of eleven world titles (six Constructors' and five Drivers,' all of these with Michael Schumacher) and of around ninety wins in Formula 1 Grands Prix." After years of hard and demanding work, Ross Brawn has decided to turn his attention to his personal life, while Paolo Martinelli will take on an important role within the Fiat Group: to them go best wishes for a satisfying future," concluded the press release.
 

The departure of the teams' chief strategist Ross Brawn had been long expected, while engine wizard Paolo Martinelli was also rumoured to be set to depart. Stefano Domenicali is confirmed as Sporting Director for next year, and in an expansion of his position he will take on more responsibilities. He joined Ferrari in 1991. Initially working in the roadcar division's administration department he switched to the Scuderia to head up the redevelopment of the Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit.

Once the circuit rebuilding programme was concluded 41-year old Domenicali, who is an American University graduate and is tipped by many observers close to Maranello as being to rise to the top at Ferrari, was initially employed by the Formula 1 team as the Head of Personnel (he was appointed to this position in 1995), then he added the duties of sponsorship liaison (in 1995), before a five year stint as team manager (1996-2001) beckoned. He hen took charge of the team's logistics (in 2001) before bouncing back as he was promoted to Sporting Director, with a particular role of co-ordinating activities between the team and the sporting authorities (2002).

Mario Almondo, who has wide range of technical experience across the board at Maranello,  meanwhile now steps up a place further on the ladder with the team to become Technical Director, replacing Brawn, who has expressed a wish to spend more time with his family. Almondo joined Ferrari in 1993 as Organisation and Personnel Manager, before being appointed Production and Quality Manager a year later. In 2000 he joined the Scuderia as Industrial Director.