Ferrari F1 team has 'clear' plan for post-Allison reorganisation

Ferrari announced on the eve of the German Grand Prix that Allison was leaving, with Mattia Binotto moving from his role as engine boss to become chief technical officer.

The team's head of race activities Jock Clear admitted Ferrari would have to "work hard to cover the gaps" following Allison's departure.

Arrivabene said: "I don't want to talk about James, for personal reasons and company reasons.

"We are reorganising the team, first of all without panicking, because taking that decision means we are clear in mind about what to do with the organisation.

"We are looking forwards to the rest of the season and we know very well where we have to work.

"I can't give you all the detail, but we know where."

The changes come at a time when Ferrari is struggling for performance - dropping behind Red Bull to third in the constructors' championship after Germany.

Arrivabene admits Ferrari has struggled with a downforce deficit since the Spanish GP in May but now understands the root of its problems.

"I don't think we have great improvement in terms of downforce since Barcelona," he said.

"That is the problem and it's why I said we clearly know where to work now - and we have to do it as soon as possible, even if it's not easy.

"I spoke about downforce, there are two types - aerodynamic downforce, the other one is mechanical downforce.

"We have to work on those areas together and sometimes they talk a different language at the moment.

"There are many, many factors, we've done a lot of analysis, and now we're quite clear about the reasons."

Arrivabene praised the engine as the strongest part of the Ferrari package at present, and promised more to come in this area.

"The engine, we have something that is coming so I'm quite comfortable with that," he said.

"In aero, you know that development will be stopped by the FIA [for the mandatory summer break], and after that we need to solve in the short term where the problems are."