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Fabio Montecchi
Fabio Montecchi
Fabio Montecchi
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Fabio Montecchi is an Italian Formula One engineer. He is currently the Chief Project Engineer at the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team.[1]

Key Information

Career

[edit]

After studying mechanical engineering at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Montecchi started his career in motorsport as a simulation engineer in the design office for Scuderia Ferrari.[2] In 2007 he progressed to leading the simulation department winning two constructors' and one drivers' title with the Italian outfit. He progressed onto to becoming Deputy Chief Designer alongside Simone Resta being responsible for the Ferrari F14 T.[3] From 2015 to 2018 he was the deputy chief designer being jointly responsible for cars that regularly challenged for race wins and podiums.[4] In 2019 Montecchi became vehicle project manager before being promoted to chief project engineer in 2021.[5]

References

[edit]
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Fabio Montecchi

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Fabio Montecchi is a Formula One engineer and the Head of Chassis Project Engineering at Scuderia Ferrari, where he oversees the design and development of chassis components for the team's racing cars. Montecchi has played a pivotal role in Ferrari's technical department for over a decade, contributing to major car projects amid evolving regulations. In 2013, he served as design coordinator for the team's 2014 Formula One car, focusing on adapting to significant engine regulation changes while building on prior developments. By 2021, he was managing Chassis Project Engineering as part of Ferrari's technical reorganization ahead of that season. In April 2023, following the departure of David Sanchez, Montecchi temporarily took over as Head of Vehicle Concept to ensure continuity in the team's development efforts. His leadership has been particularly notable in the of the , the car that propelled the team to a strong performance resurgence in the 2022 season under new ground-effect regulations. Montecchi emphasized the importance of extended design timelines, individual designer empowerment, and cross-group integration in optimizing the car's performance. In September 2024, as part of Ferrari's latest organizational restructuring, his Chassis Project Engineering department was placed under the new Technical Director Chassis, , to streamline operations for future seasons.

Education and early career

Academic background

Fabio Montecchi pursued his higher education at the Università degli Studi di Modena e , where he earned a Laurea in from 1998 to 2002. This degree provided him with a strong foundation in . Located in , , the university sits at the epicenter of the region's "Motor Valley," a global hub for high-performance automotive and motorsport innovation, home to iconic manufacturers like Ferrari and . This proximity to the industry likely influenced Montecchi's career trajectory, bridging academic training with practical opportunities in engineering. Following graduation, he transitioned into a professional role at Ferrari.

Entry into Formula One

Fabio Montecchi entered the engineering field in 2003, joining as a engineer in the office at the team's headquarters in , . His academic background in from the University of and qualified him for this entry-level role in motorsport. In his initial position, Montecchi focused on leveraging computational tools to analyze and predict , aerodynamic behaviors, and lap times through virtual track modeling. These responsibilities involved developing and applying to simulate race conditions, enabling the engineering team to optimize car setups and components during the phase without physical prototypes. This work was crucial for iterative improvements in performance, particularly under the stringent regulatory and technological constraints of early . Throughout the mid-2000s, Montecchi's efforts as a contributed to Ferrari's technical operations by providing data-driven insights that supported the evolution of and aerodynamic elements. His foundational work helped build the team's simulation capabilities during a period of intense competition, laying the groundwork for more advanced modeling techniques in subsequent years.

Professional career at Ferrari

Simulation engineering and department leadership

In 2007, Fabio Montecchi was promoted to head of Ferrari's department, a role he held until 2012. This advancement built on his initial experience as a engineer at the team since 2003. As department head, Montecchi oversaw the tools and processes essential to Ferrari's development.

Design and project management roles

In 2012, Fabio Montecchi was appointed as Deputy Chief Designer at Ferrari, working alongside , including on the F14 T project in 2014, where he focused on chassis development and the integration of overall vehicle systems. Montecchi served as Deputy Chief Designer from 2012 to early 2019, providing oversight on aspects and improvements for vehicles including the SF15-T, SF16-H, SF70H, SF71H, and SF90. His earlier leadership in simulation engineering served as a key foundation for these responsibilities. In 2019, Montecchi was promoted to Vehicle Project Manager, a position in which he coordinated efforts across departments for vehicle development, overseeing and ensuring adherence to project timelines. Following Sanchez's departure in early 2023, Montecchi temporarily took on the role of Head of Vehicle Concept, directing the team's strategies amid ongoing structural adjustments at Ferrari.

Chief Project Engineer

In 2021, Fabio Montecchi was appointed Chief Project Engineer at , where he oversees the department responsible for the overall development of chassis components in the team's Formula 1 cars. In this role, he leads the integration of chassis design elements, coordinates closely with and vehicle performance teams to ensure cohesive car architecture, and manages regulatory compliance during the build and testing phases. His responsibilities emphasize aligning technical specifications with performance targets, drawing on prior experience to streamline cross-departmental workflows. Following the appointment of as - on October 1, 2024, Montecchi's department has been integrated into an expanded that encompasses vehicle performance, , track engineering, and operations, enhancing coordination for holistic development. This restructuring aims to optimize resource allocation and technical synergy ahead of major regulatory shifts. As of November 2025, Montecchi heads the Chassis Project Engineering department, contributing to the development of the Ferrari SF-25, the team's car for the final season under the current regulations ahead of the 2026 overhaul. The 2025 season has seen ongoing challenges in consistency and reliability, including costly suspension updates.

Achievements and contributions

Role in championships

Fabio Montecchi led Ferrari's simulation department from 2007 onward, during which the team clinched the 2007 Drivers' Championship with and the Constructors' Championship that season, followed by another Constructors' title in 2008. In his subsequent design roles, including as deputy chief designer from 2012 to 2019, Montecchi contributed indirectly to Ferrari's competitive edge during the 2015–2018 seasons, marked by multiple podium finishes—such as Sebastian Vettel's three wins in 2015 and several victories in 2017—but without securing titles. Throughout his career, Montecchi's expertise in and has enhanced Ferrari's technical reliability and iterative development processes, sustaining the team's ability to challenge for championships across multiple eras.

Involvement in car development

As Deputy Chief Designer, Montecchi co-led the of the for the 2014 season, with a primary focus on modifications to align with the introduction of the 1.6-litre V6 turbo-hybrid power unit and associated systems under the new regulations. These adaptations involved repositioning components like the battery and electronics to optimize and structural integrity while maintaining compliance with the narrower dimensions. In his continued deputy role from 2015 to 2018, Montecchi contributed to enhancements across subsequent models, including the SF15-T, where efforts centered on seamless power unit integration to boost efficiency and reliability in the hybrid era. Aerodynamic refinements during this period, such as optimized sidepod designs and floor configurations on cars like the SF16-H and SF70H, aimed to improve and reduce drag, supporting Ferrari's competitive resurgence. By 2018 with the SF71H, these upgrades emphasized better thermal management and airflow around the power unit, contributing to finishes. Montecchi advanced to project management responsibilities for the 2019–2021 vehicles, overseeing the SF90, SF1000, and SF-21 with an emphasis on simulation-driven upgrades to address aerodynamic inefficiencies identified in prior seasons. These included targeted floor revisions and suspension tweaks on the SF-21 to mitigate high-rake sensitivity, leveraging simulations for iterative improvements in straight-line speed and cornering stability. As Head of , Montecchi led the development of the 2022 F1-75, prioritizing adaptations to the reintroduced ground-effect regulations that emphasized underbody for generation. Key focuses included balancing aerodynamic efficiency with stiffness to handle the increased loads from venturi tunnels, alongside optimizing to enhance handling under the new 18-inch compounds and lower ride heights. This approach involved trade-offs between aero performance and mass reduction, resulting in a car that secured multiple wins and podiums early in the season. For the 2025 SF-25, Montecchi contributed as Chief Project Engineer to a near-complete redesign, with 99% of components renewed to introduce bold innovations in and architecture under the final year of ground-effect rules. Validating aggressive choices like refined underfloor geometries and pull-rod front suspension, the project drew on four years of prior data to eliminate degradation issues from the SF-24, aiming for improved consistency across race distances.

References

  1. https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/formula1/articles/organisational-changes
  2. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/ferrari-announce-organisational-changes-as-former-mercedes-man-loic-serra.0IUcPWfs0xy101n43QxxS
  3. https://www.motorsinside.com/en/f1/news/14808-ferrari-reorganizes-design-methods
  4. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/ferrari-complete-technical-reorganisation-ahead-of-2021-season.4av3qKSQJbQovMwGn69cmK
  5. https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ferrari-has-replaced-departed-sanchez.html
  6. https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/ferraris-fabio-montecchi-hopeful-theyve-squeezed-every-ounce-of-performance/
  7. https://rocketreach.co/fabio-montecchi-email_30623351
  8. https://www.diariosullarossa.com/chi-e-fabio-montecchi-possibile-figura-di-riferimento-in-ferrari-assieme-a-serra-e-tondi/
  9. https://liquipedia.net/formula1/Fabio_Montecchi
  10. https://www.motorsportjobs.com/en/job/ferrari-f1-team-simulation-engineer-maranello
  11. https://www.motorsportjobs.com/en/job/ferrari-f1-team-simulation-development-engineer
  12. https://eliteracinglegends.com/history/open-wheel-racing/f1-car-designers/
  13. https://liquipedia.net/formula1/Ferrari
  14. https://www.scuderiaferrari.club/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Handbook_2014.pdf
  15. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ferrari-wont-replace-f1-design-chief-directly-will-split-role-5320039/5320039/
  16. https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-starting-scratch-2024-car
  17. https://www.racefans.net/2024/09/05/ferrari-move-serra-to-chassis-technical-director-role-previously-held-by-cardile/
  18. https://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/who-is-the-technical-director-of-each-formula-1-team/
  19. https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/formula1/sf-25
  20. https://scuderiafans.com/fred-vasseur-firmly-alerted-by-ferrari-test-driver-to-rethink-costly-decision-on-sf-25-suspension-update/
  21. https://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18404
  22. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-revamp-chassis-f1-team-2021/5486889/
  23. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alfa-romeo-technical-director-resta-ferrari/4496708/
  24. https://scuderiafans.com/ferrari-f1-75-design-was-constant-trade-off-between-weight-and-aero-performance/
  25. https://autoracer.it/ferrari-the-sf-25-is-almost-a-new-concept-99-of-the-car-is-new/
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