Scuderia Ferrari restructures as technical chief steps aside

Ferrari has come a long way since its days of dominating Formula One, only not in an upwards direction. The team has failed to mount a serious challenge for the championship since 2008 when the team locked up the constructors' title. That same year, Felipe Massa narrowly missed out on the drivers' title by just one point after being passed at the last corner of the last race of the season.

The team's current lack of pace could be seen no more poignantly than just this past weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Fernando Alonso took an early lead from fourth on the grid, only to be passed by Vettel, Hamilton, Button and Webber to land fifth, one lap down, as Massa retired trackside with technical problems.

The bottom line is that the team's cars just aren't up to spec, and the blame has apparently fallen on its technical chief Aldo Costa. He's held the job since 2007, but will now relinquish the role as the team comprehensively restructures its technical department. Rather than hire or promote someone to fill Costa's position, Pat Fry, Luca Marmorini and Carrado Lanzone – the individual heads of the chassis, engine and production departments, respectively – will now report directly to team principal Stefano Domenicali.

Will the new structure help Ferrari rediscover its form and launch a serious challenge against Red Bull and McLaren? That remains to be seen, but for now you can follow the jump for the official announcement.