Aston Martin is reported to have made an approach to sign Ferrari’s Formula 1 Technical Director Enrico Cardile as it strives to overcome a tough start to this season.
Since moving over to the team’s F1 operation from the Gran Turismo scheme in 2015, Cardile has graduated to Ferrari’s Chassis and Aerodynamics Technical Director.
The Italian has helped Ferrari rebound from a challenging campaign last term to now emerge as an outside title challenger to Red Bull with its revised SF-24 machine.
Ferrari’s more benign and compliant car claimed a 1-2 finish in Australia in March, while Charles Leclerc drove the latest-spec charger to a memorable win in Monaco.
However, Cardile’s services could be taken from Ferrari should Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll be successful in his endeavour to strengthen its technical division.
Sources have told Motorsport.com that Stroll has pinpointed Cardile as a potential addition to his team and has made the relevant steps to discuss a potential move.
Aston Martin has endured an underwhelming opening to this season and regressed towards the midfield, despite introducing an update package at Imola this month.
Stroll Sr harbours ambitions to translate the Silverstone-based squad into title contenders and invested in an overhauled headquarters which opened up last summer.
The Canadian billionaire is understood to have presented a lucrative proposal to design legend Adrian Newey, who will leave his current role at Red Bull in March 2025.
But while Newey is believed to be mulling a long-anticipated switch to Ferrari to conclude his racing career, Aston Martin could still capitalise on that to poach Cardile.
The Briton, 65, has been touted to arrive at the Maranello-based squad as a ‘super consultant’ to oversee Ferrari’s work on the next-generation cars penned for 2026.
However, Newei’s presence would be sure to detract from the team’s other leading personnel and it is feasible that some could feel their efforts are underappreciated.
Speaking earlier this week, Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur insisted that retaining the side’s current roster was as important as accommodating new members.
“I speak to everybody in the paddock when we meet, because we are well educated!” told Motorsport.com
“On this point, I don’t want to make any comment because every single answer could be interpreted.
“The most important [thing] is the stability of the team. As I said before, we are doing a good job. We are going in the right direction.
“The most important for me is the stability of the group much more than individuals. I am really pleased with the current situation.”