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Ferrari Sack Aerodynamic Designer John Iley

Ferrari made its first dramatic move in their 2009 campaign, as it has emerged that its head of aerodynamics and wind tunnel John Iley was today fired by the Maranello based team. The news was reported by the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, whose reporters named the F60's lack of competitiveness this season as the main cause for this decision.

It's no secret that Ferrari, much like all the big favorites for the 2009 title, have failed in getting all the pieces right for the new aerodynamic era of Formula One. With FIA's ruling a brand new aerodynamic package for this year, all teams started from scratch when designing their 2009 challengers, and those who used to be unseeded have turned into championship leaders.

Ferrari have so far recorded only 2 podiums in the first 9 rounds of the 2009 championship. For those of you who are wondering why didn't Ferrari act on the aerodynamic failure before, know that the Scuderia only recently discovered “the root” for the 2009 car's problems, and it's related to the team's aerodynamic field.

As revealed by the aforementioned publication, the 41-year old designer reached an amiable agreement with the Scuderia shortly after the German Grand Prix, only the two parties did not want to make an official announcement on the matter. Part of the settlement includes a clause that says Illey is forbidden to join a rival team within the next 6 months.

He had joined the Scuderia from Renault back in 2004. For the time being – probably until the end of the 2009 campaign – Illey's place as head of aerodynamics will by taken by Nicholas Tombazis.
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