Engineering shake-up at Maranello

THERE is to be a switch around of Ferrari's race engineering team this year with Michael Schumacher's engineer IgnazioÊLunetta being promoted to become chief engineer after four years working with the German. Schumacher will now be engineered by Eddie Irvine's 1999 engineer Luca Baldisseri although Lunetta will still be on hand to help out. Balderisseri turned down an offer from Jaguar Racing to stay at Ferrari. Rubens Barrichello will work with a new engineer Carlo Cantoni.

Ferrari has also just concluded a deal to work with Italian aerospace company Finmeccanica which will assist with its aerodynamic research and with advanced material development. Finmeccanica is involved in the production of the Eurofighter jet aircraft.

The deal with the team is part of a bigger technology deal which will involve Ferrari road cars. As part of the deal Finmeccanica will be able to use the famous Ferrari prancing horse logo in its advertising campaigns.

McLaren has a similar deal with British Aerospace.