After over 15 years of loyal service to Ferrari, Aldo Costa found himself without a significant role at the Scuderia during a technical reshuffle. Instead, Costa moved to Mercedes at the end of the 2011 season and took over the engineering director role – one that he has been very successful in, if their recent championship domination is anything to go by.

Biography

Costa earned a degree in mechanical engineering in Italy, focusing his thesis on the Ferrari racing squad. He had to wait a while before joining the Scuderia as an employee, however, and his first role was with the Minardi team, working as a designer. He was promoted to technical director in 1989, but then Ferrari did come calling.

In the early 2000s, Costa worked as chief designer for Ferrari, until a reshuffle brought in Nicolas Tombazis in that role. Costa was promoted for two years as Head of Design and Development in 2006/7, but then took the technical director role at the end of the 2007 season.

Costa was shuffled out during one of the technical reorganisations undertaken by the Scuderia, and although he initially was to “take on new responsibilities” by midway through 2011, he had parted company with the Italian team. At the end of the year, he was signed to Mercedes as Engineering Director, helping the team begin their domination of the sport.