JANUARY 24, 2006

Byrne to become a consultant

Ferrari chief designer Rory Byrne has been trying to retire for a number of years but the 62-year-old designer just cannot seem to make the break and has now agreed to stay on at Ferrari as a consultant for two more seasons.

Ferrari chief designer Rory Byrne has been trying to retire for a number of years but the 62-year-old designer just cannot seem to make the break and has now agreed to stay on at Ferrari as a consultant for two more seasons. The South African was due to end his contract this year and hand over to Italian designer Aldo Costa but Byrne will stay on helping out Costa and his team. Costa is responsible for the new 248 F1 car although Byrne has been in the background. In future Byrne will spend more time looking at long-term projects.

A number of other contracts come up for renewal this year, notably that of Jean Todt but there is no sign that Todt is going to walk away. Technical director Ross Brawn says he wants to stay.