Coupled with Michael Schumacher’s retirement, the management changes announced by Ferrari this week mark the end of an era at the Italian team. Technical director Ross Brawn is leaving, as is engine director Paulo Martinelli, while Jean Todt becomes Ferrari’s CEO. Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Jean Todt, the three key figures at F1, had had many inspirational moments in Ferrari as well as the car racing history.

With the ending of this era, will Ferrari continue to shine in the Formula One? No matter how, changes in management is inevitable in every industry. As highlighted by Jean Todt, “To see such an important chapter in the history of Ferrari come to a close has a special effect on me, even though I know that that’s life and we have to accept it….”

Human resources have always been a key successful factor for Ferrari. Ferrari had a brilliant team of technical staff: Jean Todt has always been toasted as the great strategist of Formula 1; Ross Brawn had been the technical director-cum-partner of Michael since they were in Benetton, Rory Byrne, Paolo Martinelli, Gilles Simon and Nicholas Tombazis are all notable talents in their respective fields of expertise. Of course, the last key person is Michael Schumacher. His speed, talent, determination, focus and technical knowledge had always given hope to people who worked around him. He was an outstanding leader who managed to gather the whole team to work for him and get the desired results.

After the restructuring of Ferrari, most of the technical personnel remain with the team except for Ross Brawn. The major question for Ferrari is whether Kimi, the successor of Michael, can continue playing the role of Michael. Kimi has proven himself a talented racer like Michael but his characteristics are totally different from Michael. Is he able to assimilate into the team and inspire the team to work for him as they did for Michael? It is still early days.

No matter what happens to Ferrari, the triangular powerhouse created by Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt and Ross Brawn has left behind a legacy of excellence and an era of glory which will leave an indelible mark on F1 history.

Ferrari’s new structure after the major restructuring is as follows:
1. CEO: Jean Todt
2. General Manager: Amedeo Felisa
3. Technical Director: Mario Almondo
4. Design and Development: Aldo Costa
5. Chief designer: Nicholas Tombazis
6. Engine Director: Gilles Simon
7. Director of racing activities: Stefano Domenicali
8. Technical consultant: Rory Byrne