Ferrari Sign Former McLaren Technical Boss Pat Fry

Ferrari have made a great transfer during the 2010 season of Formula One. Although the FIFA World Cup keeps making the headlines in recent weeks, it's the F1 teams that seem to transfer valuable “players” for the future. After Lotus F1 recently announced the signing of three ex-Force India employees for the 2011 season – including technical director Mark Smith – now Ferrari have signed a new technical director of their own.

After days of rumoring, Ferrari has finally confirmed the signing of former McLaren Mercedes chief engineer Pat Fry. The 46-year old British engineer had been an employee of the Woking based team for 18 years, until deciding to leave McLaren as part of the team's new re-organizing scheme.

Fry will therefore start work at Maranello from July 1st, where he will begin as an assistant technical director. Consequently, Fry will report directly to Ferrari's technical boss Aldo Costa, with the Italian team announcing that “the structure of the technical department remains (otherwise) unchanged.”

No other information was disclosed over Fry's future roles within the Scuderia. Although he's on compulsory 'gardening leave', Fry was signed by the Scuderia with the thought that maybe he can have an early impact on Ferrari's 2011 challenger.

Asked about the departure of his former employee last month, McLaren Mercedes' team principal Martin Whitmarsh agreed Fry needed some time off racing for a while. Little he knew his former collaborate was planning a Ferrari exit. Fry's F1 job prior to McLaren was with Benetton.

“I think it was probably good for him, the right decision for him to take a bit of a break, take a breather,” said Whitmarsh at the time.