Gardening leave gridlock: Ferrari delays Aston's technical ace
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Aston Martin's ambitious plans for the 2026 Formula 1 season have hit a snag as Ferrari holds firm on delaying the arrival of Enrico Cardile, the Silverstone squad's newly appointed Chief Technical Officer.
Cardile, who parted ways with Ferrari last July, remains sidelined on gardening leave, with the Italian team reportedly insisting on a full 12-month hiatus.
According to Corriere dello Sport, this standoff means Cardile likely won't join Aston Martin until July 17 – months after the critical early development phase for the 2026 car, a pivotal project under new engine and chassis regulations.
The delay involving is a blow to Lawrence Stroll's outfit, which is banking on the regulation shake-up to catapult them toward the front of the grid.
The Italian engineer's expertise, honed as Ferrari's Technical Director - Chassis, was meant to be a cornerstone of that push.
Yet, as negotiations between Ferrari and Aston Martin drag on, his start date remains unresolved, leaving the team to navigate the interim without one of its key hires.
Cowell's Cautious Optimism
Aston Martin CEO and Team Principal Andy Cowell addressed the uncertainty with measured words during a media session. When pressed on Cardile's arrival, he sidestepped specifics.
"I guess what we're looking forward to is having a thousand people working well together," commented Cowell, quoted by Motorsport Week.
"We're looking forward to Adrian joining. We're looking forward to the dozens of new starters that we have every month. I think it was 248 through the 2024 calendar year.
Aston Martin CEO & Team Principal Andy Cowell.
"So we're looking forward to having everybody together and working well as a team, each member having clear responsibilities from Adrian, myself, down to interns working for us for 12 months in their degree."
Cowell had touted Cardile's role at the AMR25 launch, claiming he "will oversee the architecture, design and construction of the new cars."
But with his start still in limbo, questions linger about his involvement in the 2026 challenger.
"There's a big group of people already working on the 2026 car, pushing forwards," Cowell said.
"And as we add people in, then we get stronger. And increased capacity, increased experience just helps push us forwards."
The Briton's comments reflect a focus on momentum, even as Cardile's absence looms.
Newey Steps In
While Cardile's arrival hangs in the balance, Aston Martin finds solace in a silver lining: the arrival of the team's new Managing Technical Partner, Adrian Newey, who has stepped into his office on his new team's campus, primed and ready.
"Yes, his office is ready. The drawing board's there?" Cowell said, ahead of Cowell's arrival on March 3. "I could show you a photo, but there's too many of you to look at the image on my phone."
©AstonMartin
For now, Aston Martin will press on, bolstered by Newey and a influx of 248 new hires in 2024 alone.
Yet, the unresolved tug-of-war with Ferrari over Cardile casts a shadow over their preparations.
As the clock ticks toward 2026, Silverstone waits—eager for the day their full technical arsenal, Cardile included, can unite to chase championship glory.
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