Ferrari has won a legal case in Italy, blocking their former technical director, Enrico Cardile, from starting work at Aston Martin until July 18. Cardile, who signed with Aston Martin as chief technical officer in July, has been at the center of a dispute over his start date.
Cardile’s career and the legal dispute
Cardile began his F1 career at Ferrari in 2016 as Head of Aerodynamics and later became a key member of the team’s technical staff. In 2019, when Mattia Binotto was appointed team principal, Cardile also took on the role of Vehicle Project Manager, which he held until signing with Aston Martin last year.
Ferrari claimed that Cardile was “already violating” the non-compete commitment by collaborating earlier than planned with Aston, which a court in Modena upheld “a few weeks ago“. The team explained that the purpose of the clause was to prevent rival teams from gaining an unfair advantage by hiring him prematurely.
Aston Martin issued a statement, saying, “This is a matter between Enrico and Ferrari and their legal representatives in Italy, and the parties continue to be engaged in the process. As such we won’t be making any further comment.“
Impact on Aston Martin’s 2026 car development
As a result of the ruling, Ferrari has managed to ensure Cardile will not be able to contribute to Aston Martin’s development of their 2026 car until late in the development phase.
The 2026 season will bring major changes in F1, with new chassis and engine regulations. Aston Martin, aiming to become a title contender, has undergone significant changes, including hiring legendary designer Adrian Newey as managing technical partner. Newey began work on March 3, 2025, in time to influence the design of the 2026 car, with teams allowed to start aerodynamic work this year.
Aston Martin will also become Honda’s factory engine partner in 2026, after using Mercedes engines for several years. The team has invested in new facilities, including a new factory, a driver-in-the-loop simulator, and a wind tunnel set to be operational soon for research and development.
