Arrivabene to Replace Mattiacci as Ferrari F1 Team Principal
Ferrari is set to replace Marco Mattiacci with Marlboro executive Maurizio Arrivabene after just seven months, as the team seeks stability following a turbulent 2014 Formula One season.
Ferrari will appoint Maurizio Arrivabene, currently Marlboro's European brand manager, as its Formula One team principal, replacing Marco Mattiacci after just seven months in the role. The move follows a disappointing 2014 campaign and marks another rapid change at the top of the Maranello squad.
German publication Sport Bild reported on 22 November 2014 that Mattiacci, who took over from Stefano Domenicali in April, would be leaving his post within days. Arrivabene, who has managed the Marlboro brand’s involvement in Formula One and is well known in the paddock, is expected to bring both commercial acumen and established relationships with key figures in the sport.
Ferrari's leadership turbulence in 2014
Mattiacci’s short tenure as team boss began after Domenicali’s resignation during a period of mounting pressure at Ferrari. The team endured a winless season in 2014, failing to match the pace of Mercedes and Red Bull. Mattiacci, previously head of Ferrari’s North American operations, was tasked with restructuring but struggled to deliver immediate results on track.
During Mattiacci’s spell, Ferrari confirmed the departure of Fernando Alonso and the signing of Sebastian Vettel for 2015. Despite these moves, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne reportedly remained dissatisfied with the team’s progress and direction, prompting the latest change in management.
Arrivabene's Formula One credentials
Maurizio Arrivabene is no stranger to the Formula One paddock. As Marlboro’s brand manager, he has overseen the company’s long-running sponsorship of Ferrari and built close ties with both Ferrari management and Formula One’s commercial rights holders. His appointment signals Ferrari’s desire for a leader with both commercial and sporting experience, as well as established relationships at the highest levels of the sport.
Arrivabene’s proximity to Ferrari’s sponsors and his reputation for understanding the business side of Formula One are seen as assets as the team attempts to rebuild after a difficult season. His connections with figures such as Bernie Ecclestone are also likely to be influential as Ferrari navigates ongoing changes in the sport’s governance and commercial structure.
What the change means for Ferrari
The decision to replace Mattiacci with Arrivabene continues a period of upheaval for Ferrari, which has seen multiple changes in leadership and technical staff since the start of 2014. For the team’s workforce and partners, the arrival of a familiar figure from the sponsor side may offer some stability, but it also underlines the urgency with which Ferrari’s upper management expects results.
With Sebastian Vettel joining Kimi Räikkönen in the driver line-up for 2015, Arrivabene will be tasked with turning around the team’s fortunes on track and restoring Ferrari’s competitiveness in Formula One. The move also reflects Ferrari’s willingness to look beyond traditional team management backgrounds in its search for a winning formula.
- Mattiacci replaced Domenicali in April 2014
- Arrivabene will be Ferrari's third team boss in less than a year
- Ferrari finished 2014 without a race win
