Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed a difference of opinion over Adrian Newey's role within the Scuderia played a part in the Scuderia's failure to land the esteemed F1 designer.
It was announced in early May that Newey would leave Red Bull in the first quarter of next year, ending a 19-year association with the team he has helped win seven drivers' championships and six constructors' titles.
Over time, Ferrari appeared the favourite to sign Newey, which would have resulted in the 65-year-old realising one of his ambitions in working with Lewis Hamilton as the seven-time F1 champion joins the Italian outfit for 2025.
Instead, Newey will now design for Aston Martin, with confirmation of his appointment expected on Tuesday morning.
"There were discussions [with Newey],” Vasseur confirmed to French newspaper L’Equipe. “He probably had a different idea of what I thought for him. Maybe we will find common ground one day."
Despite Newey's stunning success rate in F1, not just with Red Bull but also previously with Williams and McLaren, there are no guarantees he will be able to replicate that with Aston Martin.
Newey will be joining a formidable technical line-up at Aston Martin, that includes the recently poached Enrico Cardile, Ferrari's former chassis technical director who also starts next year. Cardile will become the chief technical officer.
"It is not an individual that changes the outcome of a team," remarked Vasseur. "The group is always stronger than the individual.”
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Despite Cardile's exit, Vasseur will soon be joined by another Frenchman in Loïc Serra. Formerly performance director at Mercedes, Serra starts with the Scuderia on October 1.
Highlighting Serra's credentials, Vasseur said: "Loïc's strength is that he is an experienced man who has spent a lot of time at the highest level. And what's more, he is a racing man."
Serra will start his new role on the same day as Jérôme d'Ambrosio, who for a while appeared as if he was being groomed to succeed Toto Wolff as Mercedes team principal.
Vasseur, instead, managed to lure d'Ambrosio to Maranello to become his number two, as well as overseeing the running of the Ferrari Academy.
"It was important for me to have someone who has Jérôme's knowledge," said Vasseur. "He has experienced everything in racing, has been a driver, team boss, team CEO. He knows the job."
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