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Enrico Cardile

Enrico Cardile (born 5 April 1975) is an aerospace engineer and technical leader, best known for his roles in and development at before becoming Chief Technical Officer at . Born in , , Cardile earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the in 2002, with his thesis focusing on aerodynamic topics relevant to . He began his professional career at Ferrari in the road car division as a young engineer, later transitioning to the program before joining the team in 2016 as Head of Aerodynamic Development. At Ferrari, Cardile advanced to Deputy and then (Chassis) in 2021, overseeing key aspects of car design, aerodynamics, and vehicle performance that contributed to victories for drivers including , , and . His tenure emphasized innovative aerodynamic solutions and integration of driver feedback to enhance competitiveness. In July 2024, Cardile announced his departure from Ferrari to join as Chief Technical Officer, a move that initially sparked a legal dispute with his former team over contractual obligations, resolved in by early August 2025, allowing him to begin work at the team's facility. In this role, he leads chassis, aerodynamics, and vehicle dynamics efforts, collaborating with on the team's ambitious 2026 power unit and regulation overhaul to position as a championship contender.

Early life and education

Birth and upbringing

Enrico Cardile was born on 5 April 1975 in , a city in the region of .

Academic background

Enrico Cardile pursued his higher education at the in , where he enrolled in the aerospace engineering program, focusing on fields that would later inform his career in high-performance vehicle design. His studies emphasized aeronautical principles, including and , which are critical to applications. Cardile completed his degree in aeronautical engineering in 2002, marking a key academic milestone in the early 2000s. For his , he conducted research on the Ferrari , exploring aerodynamic innovations that bridged academic with practical vehicle performance challenges. This project highlighted his early expertise in simulations relevant to racing car design.

Ferrari career

Initial roles in GT racing

Enrico Cardile joined Ferrari in 2005 shortly after earning his degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Pisa, beginning his professional career in the company's GT racing department as head of the Termica Department. In this entry-level position, he focused on the design and development of grand touring vehicles for endurance and GT series, leveraging his background in aerodynamics to contribute to performance enhancements in these competitive categories. Cardile's responsibilities included overseeing aerodynamic aspects for Ferrari's GT cars competing in the , where he supported the engineering efforts behind models like the F430 GTC and subsequent iterations. This involved collaboration on component optimization and testing to improve handling and efficiency under race conditions, laying the groundwork for Ferrari's successes in . His work extended to endurance events, contributing to the development of vehicles that achieved victories in the 24 Hours and the during his tenure in the GT program. Through these initial roles, Cardile gained hands-on experience in the integration of aerodynamic principles into production-derived , emphasizing processes to balance speed, stability, and reliability in high-stakes GT environments. His contributions helped Ferrari maintain a competitive edge in series such as the FIA GT and , where precise aerodynamic refinements were critical to overall vehicle performance.

Progression in Formula One aerodynamics

Enrico Cardile's transition to aerodynamics began in 2016 when he moved from Ferrari's department to the F1 team as Head of Aero Development. In this role, he directed the aerodynamic design process, leveraging (CFD) simulations and testing to refine airflow management around the car. His early contributions focused on optimizing generation for the 2017 SF70H chassis, where targeted adjustments to front and rear wing configurations helped improve high-speed stability during the hybrid era's stringent aerodynamic constraints. By 2017, Cardile advanced to Vehicle Project Manager, overseeing the integration of aerodynamic elements with for subsequent seasons in the late . This period saw him lead efforts to enhance overall car efficiency, including refinements to underbody that balanced with reduced penalties under evolving FIA regulations. His work emphasized iterative prototyping and validation, ensuring aerodynamic packages translated effectively from to track performance, as demonstrated in chassis updates that supported competitive showings in 2017 and 2018. This hands-on progression culminated in pivotal contributions to the 2022 ground-effect regulations, where he championed a systematic approach integrating with vehicle integration from the outset. Ferrari's development under his influence prioritized floor and diffuser innovations to maximize underbody , enabling the F1-75 to achieve strong qualifying pace in the regulation's debut year. Cardile's expertise extended to addressing aerodynamic sensitivities, particularly in later iterations like the 2023 SF-23, where his team redesigned elements to mitigate losses in cornering through revised sidepod and floor shaping. He stressed the critical correlation between CFD predictions, results, and on-track validation, which allowed Ferrari to deploy upgrades such as the package that boosted rear for better traction out of slow corners. These advancements underscored his focus on conceptual aero efficiency over incremental tweaks, positioning Ferrari competitively in an era of rapid regulatory evolution.

Leadership as technical director

In January 2021, Enrico Cardile was promoted to Head of the Chassis Area at Ferrari, a role in which he oversaw the integration of , , and related chassis engineering efforts to enhance overall car performance. This appointment built on his prior aerodynamic expertise, enabling him to coordinate multidisciplinary teams in addressing complex development challenges under the Formula 1 cost cap constraints. Following Mattia Binotto's departure as team principal at the end of the 2022 season, Fred Vasseur implemented a technical restructuring upon taking over in early 2023, formally elevating Cardile to for the chassis side. In this senior position, Cardile managed all chassis-related technical operations, including and , while reporting directly to Vasseur and collaborating with power unit Technical Director Enrico Gualtieri to align overall F1 development strategy. Key outcomes under his leadership included targeted mid-season upgrades to the SF-23 car, such as revised floor and sidepod designs introduced at the , which improved aerodynamic efficiency and contributed to podium finishes later in the season. Cardile also directed initial preparations for the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, focusing on chassis architecture adaptations to the new power unit and aerodynamic rules as part of a broader shift toward sustainable technologies and active aerodynamics.

Move to Aston Martin

Departure and legal dispute

In July 2024, after nearly two decades with Scuderia Ferrari, Enrico Cardile announced his departure from his role as Technical Director (Chassis Area), marking the end of a significant chapter in his career at the team. Ferrari confirmed the immediate effect of his exit on July 8, 2024, following his resignation, with Aston Martin simultaneously announcing his signing as Chief Technical Officer for the 2025 season. Cardile's transition faced immediate hurdles due to contractual obligations, including a one-year gardening leave clause and non-compete provisions that Ferrari sought to enforce strictly. When Aston Martin indicated plans for Cardile to begin work earlier than the full term, Ferrari initiated legal proceedings in Italy's Court of in early 2025, arguing that the clauses protected sensitive and team strategies. In March 2025, the court ruled in Ferrari's favor, upholding the delay and preventing Cardile from joining until July 2025, thereby extending the gardening leave to its full duration. This decision stemmed from Ferrari's concerns over potential in and development, areas central to Cardile's expertise. The dispute concluded in early August 2025, when Cardile officially commenced his duties at following the expiration of the enforced leave and resolution of all outstanding legal matters through the Italian court process, without any reported settlement or beyond the judicial ruling. confirmed his integration on August 4, 2025, allowing the team to proceed with its technical restructuring ahead of the 2026 regulations.

Integration and new responsibilities

Enrico Cardile officially began his role as Chief Technical Officer at in August 2025, following the resolution of his contractual dispute with Ferrari. His integration into the team marked a significant step in 's technical restructuring, as he relocated to the campus to lead the engineering efforts alongside key figures like team principal . In his position, Cardile oversees the comprehensive technical development of the team's cars, with a primary focus on preparing for the 2026 regulations. This includes directing the design and integration of the new and power unit, in close collaboration with , who joined as Managing Technical Partner earlier in the year. Cardile reports directly to both Cowell and Newey, emphasizing seamless information flow across departments such as , , and to ensure cohesive progress. His responsibilities extend to optimizing validation tools and processes, drawing on Aston Martin's partnership with for the 2026 power unit to push performance boundaries. Cardile's vision for Aston Martin's competitiveness centers on transforming the team into a frontrunner under the incoming regulations, which introduce major changes to and powertrains. He advocates for an innovative, non-hierarchical approach to , fostering creativity amid the "controlled chaos" of rapid development. Ambitious goals include achieving podium contention and ultimately victories by leveraging driver input from and , while continuing to expand the technical staff to support long-term restructuring. Cardile has stated, "," underscoring his commitment to delivering a competitive 2026 car.

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