Aldo Costa on Ferrari

[radosav]

Aldo Costa was designer of some of the Ferraris raced by Michael Schumacher, replaced Ross Brawn as Technical Director at Ferrari and held the post until May 2011, when he was sacked. Brawn then hired him for Mercedes and he is the man behind the current design, which is dominating both the drivers and constructors’ championships.

In a blog post, leading Italian F1 journalist Leo Turrini has spoken to Costa and got some interesting revelations from the 53 year old, about Mercedes team orders and on why he thinks Ferrari is now in the doldrums.

Costa is one of twelve Italian engineers working at Mercedes, many of whom he recruited himself. He describes this as, “Professionally a happy time.”

This contrasts with the summer of 2011 when he was let go by Ferrari. On the subject of whose current predicament he says,

“I’m not happy about it. I worked for a company that is a myth. It doesn’t please me to see how it is reduced, in Formula One terms, even though they fired me and in a way that I don’t consider very elegant.

“Let me say that there are a lot of people working in Maranello, for whom I feel affection and it pains me that they are in such a complicated situation. It is not good, I left many friends there, should I be happy to see them in such trouble?”

As for pinpointing the reasons why Ferrari is struggling now, with no wins and just two podiums in the first half of the 2014 season, Costa says,
“Strategic mistakes were made – I’m talking here about errors of vision – very serious ones. And of course they haven’t always taken the best decisions regarding people.

“I’ll give you an example. In 2008 we in the racing department put in a request to construct a new wind tunnel. We considered it essential to remain competitive. We were told that this was not the case and that there was no need.

“In Ferrari all the decisions, on strategy and people, have always been taken by the president, Montezenolo. To be fair, he took them when Ferrari was winning everything and he also took them when Ferrari stopped winning.”

The tunnel at Maranello was converted from 50% scale to 60% scale, but it suffered from problems with calibration and Ferrari lost a lot of time as a result. They were forced to use Toyota’s tunnel in Cologne while the issues were resolved.

Ferrari is currently constructing a huge new complex in Maranello to house its race team, known as Gestione Sportiva.

Costa says that he doesn’t expect Ferrari to rise up again soon from its difficulties and expects the challenge next season to come from Red Bull, rather than from Maranello.
Speaking of Fernando Alonso, with whom he worked at Ferrari in the Spaniard’s first two seasons there, Costa says,

“I consider Fernando a true great when he is in the car, driving. Out of the car, I was never able to understand him; to me he is an indecipherable character, an enigma.

“However he will not be coming to us at Mercedes, I do not see why Hamilton should want to leave a team like ours.”
And speaking of Lewis Hamilton, Costa addresses the subject of the controversial team orders in Hungary, whereby Mercedes asked Hamilton to let Rosberg past, as he was on a different strategy at the time. Costa makes it clear that the senior management doesn’t care which of the two drivers wins the world title.

“The radio message, heard from the outside, I admit, it sounded bad,” he said. “But it was logical: Nico soon had to return to the pits to change tyres, he was faster, there was reason to ask Lewis to let him through. But there were no ulterior motives and even malice, trust me.

“I can assure you that Mercedes will not make any preference, between Hamilton and Rosberg. It is not in our interests. In fact, the team has a very strict directive: as the two drivers are extremely competitive and are willing to battle each other at every race, we have an obligation to provide both of the a completely equal car in performance terms.”
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2014/08/mercedes-designer-aldo-costa-on-why-his-old-team-ferrari-is-struggling/

[bonzo]

So, he took some talent from Maranello with him:furious
Another Stefano legacy...

[wisepie]

So it looks as if he took some real talent with him when he was ousted, more fool Ferrari for letting him go. Not quite sure what he means about LdM, maybe Matiacci will be able to re-ignite the flame that has been lacking these past few years, but how long do we have to wait?:-s

[Hornet]

Well there's always 2 sides of every story. He's not happy being dropped by the team, of course his comments are going to be influenced by that. Not that it matters now anyway, that's old story from many years ago.

[AfterLife]

To be honest i don't think even part of Mercedes current competitiveness is down to Aldo Costa eventhough some people believe it is all down to Aldo Costa!

[REDARMYSOJA]

Paddy Lowe says he did it.



"Credit to Ross, he had been part of that process. I think I've come in and taken that forward to the next level.

"It's not so much about changing where Ross had been leading, it's more augmenting.

"I see gaps that Ross hadn't covered and fill in those gaps.


LINK>> Lowe: I've taken Mercedes to next level (http://www.f1reader.com/news/lowe-i-039-ve-taken-mercedes-to-next-level-103800)

[Greig]

So, he took some talent from Maranello with him:furious
Another Stefano legacy...

You blame Stefano, but the article states it was Luca Di.....lol


“I’ll give you an example. In 2008 we in the racing department put in a request to construct a new wind tunnel. We considered it essential to remain competitive. We were told that this was not the case and that there was no need.

“In Ferrari all the decisions, on strategy and people, have always been taken by the president, Montezenolo. To be fair, he took them when Ferrari was winning everything and he also took them when Ferrari stopped winning.”

Time to wake up a little....

[Majki2111]

There is another interview with hin where he says:
"Ferrari's problem is that they always have one driver in focus and there you have no room for other options. You have to conquer applications which leads to no room for talented persons.
I dont belive in Ferrari evolution 2015 because they have always same type of work. Even if they change that, I dont think things will change at Ferrari.
"We're building a new maschine and we still lack something. The new rules dont go in our hand.
He also states that all Matiacci effort will have no reasult, that Montezemolo brings all the decisions and he doesnt have great opinion about Alonso.

[Stebandelareina]

If not for the merc engine RB will win this championship easily. Someone should tell Costa to wake up and be more polite with Ferrari. But as most of the fired people of Ferrari who till then were Ferrarist from the hearth, they start to talk from outside.
The F150 italia was a complete disaster, and the job of Costa with development in 2010 was pitiful, loosing the ass with the Fduct.
Maybe he is right about the windtunnel but... the F2007 an 8 were made with that tunnel and the evolutions worked.

Imagine that Allison and tombazis make a good car in 2015.. it will be delicious to watch all this haters who already have buried the Scuderia eat his words.

[Brembo]

"Ferrari always have one driver in focus and there you have no room for other options." There's our answer to Kimi's record so far this year. Sabotage? Of course not. That's rediculous to think. There just concentrating fully on Alonso's needs. Rightfully so, he's the best and needs the best Ferrari can give . He performed a miracle comming in 2nd with what he has. So bottom line here seems to be, don't blame Kimi for bad results. He's doing best he can with what Ferrari gives him to work with. The same went for Massa with what Ferrari gave him to work with IMO. He was a #2 driver and the above applied also to him.

[Kingdom Hearts]

"Ferrari always have one driver in focus and there you have no room for other options." There's our answer to Kimi's record so far this year. Sabotage? Of course not. That's rediculous to think. There just concentrating fully on Alonso's needs. Rightfully so, he's the best and needs the best Ferrari can give . He performed a miracle comming in 2nd with what he has. So bottom line here seems to be, don't blame Kimi for bad results. He's doing best he can with what Ferrari gives him to work with. The same went for Massa with what Ferrari gave him to work with IMO. He was a #2 driver and the above applied also to him.


That quote is false, the only interview that Costa gave was to Turrini, there is nothing like your quote in the Turrini article, is just bad journalism trying to create problems.

[Nova]

Ferrari's problems of the past have always been political within the org.
Todt and Brawn fixed that, made things more direct. Costa was a part of that
team. Mabey Aldo learned the lessons of Brawn and apply those to Merc.
Looks like he has a good crew, and the car is winning. What more is there to say really.
Unless Ferrari returns to a Brawn team structure model, they will probably continue as they are, sad to say.
I like Costa, and we can see the Brawn effect wherever he goes.

[Silent Bob]

If not for the merc engine RB will win this championship easily. Someone should tell Costa to wake up and be more polite with Ferrari. But as most of the fired people of Ferrari who till then were Ferrarist from the hearth, they start to talk from outside.
The F150 italia was a complete disaster, and the job of Costa with development in 2010 was pitiful, loosing the ass with the Fduct.
Maybe he is right about the windtunnel but... the F2007 an 8 were made with that tunnel and the evolutions worked.

Imagine that Allison and tombazis make a good car in 2015.. it will be delicious to watch all this haters who already have buried the Scuderia eat his words.


I hope they can design and build a decent car. However Aldo is the second guy to state that Ferrari won't be improving anytime soon. Boullier stated the same a while ago. Hope they're both wrong.

[Stebandelareina]

Nobody said last year that williams will make pole and podiums. Or marussia scoring points and winning sauber.
Boulier and Costa didn't know anything about what is going on in Maranello.

[Hornet]

Exactly. Something is really wrong if they know what's going on in Ferrari right now to tell we won't be winning :-E

[RedPassion]

I think Bouiller should better think at their own desastrous situation before dispensing his wisdom somewhere else,they have the same engine spec as williams and being constantly humiliated by them.
Im shocked by Aldo speaking out as nothing ever happened:
-He is clearly not the saviour at Mercedes,he is in a smaller role than in Ferrari and he is a little peace in the jig saw puzzle.
-He may be right about the mistake of not building a new wind tunnel in 2008 but he is saying us nothing new,Mattiacci already said the same a month ago.
-He was in charge of the TD between 2008 and 2011 and he blew it,conventional and slow cars,bad organisation,making very little with very much(as confirmed indirectly by Fry,Mattiacci,Allison and Domenicali),
Chris Dyer didnt deserve to be fired,Aldo did.
-He attacks Tombazis,but it is obvious that since his departure the cars have been much more aggressive and creative(compare the F60-F10-F150th with the F2012 or the F14T),results didnt come as wanted but at least they tried,and it will improve much more under Allison management.
IMHO Aldo is an average engeeneer and slightly overrated,he deserved to be fired and Ferrari has lost nothing with him.
He is just spitting venom and speaking sour grapes.One thing is sure,He wasnt able to manage the team and know whats best for it,he doesnt have a clue either now that hes at Mercedes,and the same is for Bouiller,they are just speaking from thin air.

[Brembo]

That quote is false, the only interview that Costa gave was to Turrini, there is nothing like your quote in the Turrini article, is just bad journalism trying to create problems.

Your probably right about that being a false quote that I'm quoting. After all just look at how Rubens and MS were treated as equal, Alonso and Massa. If Kimi can get a competitive car I'm sure he and Alonso will be free to race each other for points. A Ferrari tradition, no preferential treatment among drivers. Kingdom I'm glad you made that clear.

[Silent Bob]

Nobody said last year that williams will make pole and podiums. Or marussia scoring points and winning sauber.
Boulier and Costa didn't know anything about what is going on in Maranello.

How do we know? Ferrari has let a few people go recently, I'm sure some of these people have been picked up by other teams. Maybe they're blowing smoke, but they have a lot more info than you or me. To state emphatically that they know nothing is a little ignorant.

[Silent Bob]

I think Bouiller should better think at their own desastrous situation before dispensing his wisdom somewhere else,they have the same engine spec as williams and being constantly humiliated by them.
Im shocked by Aldo speaking out as nothing ever happened:
-He is clearly not the saviour at Mercedes,he is in a smaller role than in Ferrari and he is a little peace in the jig saw puzzle.
-He may be right about the mistake of not building a new wind tunnel in 2008 but he is saying us nothing new,Mattiacci already said the same a month ago.
-He was in charge of the TD between 2008 and 2011 and he blew it,conventional and slow cars,bad organisation,making very little with very much(as confirmed indirectly by Fry,Mattiacci,Allison and Domenicali),
Chris Dyer didnt deserve to be fired,Aldo did.
-He attacks Tombazis,but it is obvious that since his departure the cars have been much more aggressive and creative(compare the F60-F10-F150th with the F2012 or the F14T),results didnt come as wanted but at least they tried,and it will improve much more under Allison management.
IMHO Aldo is an average engeeneer and slightly overrated,he deserved to be fired and Ferrari has lost nothing with him.
He is just spitting venom and speaking sour grapes.One thing is sure,He wasnt able to manage the team and know whats best for it,he doesnt have a clue either now that hes at Mercedes,and the same is for Bouiller,they are just speaking from thin air.


We still haven't progressed even after his departure. And if he was telling Ferrari to get a new wind tunnel back in 2008, then maybe he's a little more competent than we thought. Notice now how people are starting to say the same things about Fry And Tombasiz as was said about Costa?

[Salvador Dali]

IMHO Aldo didn't blame this situation on the people in the team (present or past) but rather on the way this organisation is managed!
A direct poke on Luca di...

Is it true or not, time will tell.

[Stebandelareina]

How do we know? Ferrari has let a few people go recently, I'm sure some of these people have been picked up by other teams. Maybe they're blowing smoke, but they have a lot more info than you or me. To state emphatically that they know nothing is a little ignorant.

They know more than you and me, but they make the statenent that we wont be competitive next year, and with the amount of changes in maranello, saying that is being more ignorant than me. Alonso and kimi have seen the project, for example, and they didnt know our level for next year.

I'm tired of those loosers who say about Ferrari when they left, nothing more. Both are very disrespectfull and they deserve a class of style an education served on red. And costa may need an oficial answer, in my opinion.

[Silent Bob]

They know more than you and me, but they make the statenent that we wont be competitive next year, and with the amount of changes in maranello, saying that is being more ignorant than me. Alonso and kimi have seen the project, for example, and they didnt know our level for next year.

I'm tired of those loosers who say about Ferrari when they left, nothing more. Both are very disrespectfull and they deserve a class of style an education served on red. And costa may need an oficial answer, in my opinion.

No it's not. Getting mad when others are laying it on the line is about the same as hiding your head in the sand. We know Ferrari is in trouble.. if they weren't they wouldn't be making such sweeping changes.. the only question is how quick those changes bear fruit. I hope next year we have a great car, but realistically we still might be behind Red Bull and Merc. Unlike yourself, I don't think it's a wise practice to systematically discount the views and opinions of your competitors, especially those that aren't prone to hyperbole... you have to consider if there might be some truth to what they are saying.

[Giallo 550]

It might be sour grapes, but it also might not.

[abbottcostello]

Anyone can claim to be a genius when talking about past events (wind tunnel), very difficult to prove him a liar. (I discovered this early on in my career, served me quite well!)
Without having any inside knowledge of Ferrari's F1 division or their organizational structure, even I can state with probably a better than 80% chance of being right, that Ferrari will struggle for the rest of this season & into 2015 season as well. It's pretty easy to generalize like that when a team is clearly struggling at present to say those problems will likely continue into the near future.

No matter what I think of Aldo, he's in a position that seems to be above reproach since he no longer answers to Ferrari management. He could claim the most absurd as fact, then say, "well of course Ferrari will dispute this, they made me the scapegoat, do you expect them to admit these things?"

Rightly or wrongly, he is part of Ferrari's past, I look to the people there NOW to see the direction they take the F1 team

[Stebandelareina]

No it's not. Getting mad when others are laying it on the line is about the same as hiding your head in the sand. We know Ferrari is in trouble.. if they weren't they wouldn't be making such sweeping changes.. the only question is how quick those changes bear fruit. I hope next year we have a great car, but realistically we still might be behind Red Bull and Merc. Unlike yourself, I don't think it's a wise practice to systematically discount the views and opinions of your competitors, especially those that aren't prone to hyperbole... you have to consider if there might be some truth to what they are saying.

I do considere that they maybe have a point (in fact, Marc Gene said that we wont be competitive till 2016) and I'm very positive about the critics, they always help to improve. My problem are the attacs at Ferrari without a reason and the lack of manners from people who use to be a so called Ferrarist.

For christ shake,hearing Costa looks like HIS lack of results was because everyone else but him.

I don't hear no one else talking about other teams in that disrespectful manners.

[harry harris]

Year after year full of disappoinment and failure, that is the price he has to pay............... been SACKED rather than SEPPUKU. But don't forget there's another guy left behind. Guess what?????? the one and the only TOMBAZIS........ :Hmm

[Brembo]

There is another interview with hin where he says:
"Ferrari's problem is that they always have one driver in focus and there you have no room for other options. You have to conquer applications which leads to no room for talented persons.
I dont belive in Ferrari evolution 2015 because they have always same type of work. Even if they change that, I dont think things will change at Ferrari.
"We're building a new maschine and we still lack something. The new rules dont go in our hand.
He also states that all Matiacci effort will have no reasult, that Montezemolo brings all the decisions and he doesnt have great opinion about Alonso.
I knew I read that Costa comment somewhere! Ferrari always have one driver in focus and there you have no room for other options. No truer words ever spoken with regards to that problem.

[shamim179]

Costa is blaming Luca. Wasn't Costa the chief designer of the car and these cars were good but when Tombazis took over his role that's when things started getting worse? It just sounds like all these years the true reason was hidden from the fans and public all along. Seems like nothing can be said or hinted about the president while you work for Ferrari. Wonder what other former Ferrari employees would say about Ferrari? Too many people are saying not so good things about Ferrari. Very bad sign.