Stepney moves in Ferrari reshuffle

Autosport revealed earlier this year that Stepney was unhappy with his job after a restructuring that had taken place at Maranello over the winter following the departure of technical director Ross Brawn.

Former head of human resources Mario Almondo has been made the new technical director, with strategist Luca Baldisserri complementing him at events. The set-up had left Stepney wanting to follow Brawn and take a sabbatical himself.

He told Autosport at the time: "I am looking at spending a year away from Ferrari. I'm not currently happy with the situation within the team - I really want to move forward with my career and that's something that's not happening right now.

"Ideally, I'd like to move into a new environment here at Ferrari - but if an opportunity arose with another team, I would definitely consider it."

Ferrari insisted, however, that Stepney saw out the remaining 12 months on his contract and have subsequently agreed for him to take on another role at the team.

Stepney has been made responsible for Team Performance Development, which operates under the Track Activity Department headed up by Baldisserri.

A Ferrari spokesman told autosport.com: "After many years spent working on the Formula One circuits, the last 13 of those as part of the Ferrari Race Team, Nigel Stepney, with the approval of the company, has chosen to take on a different role that will see him no longer have to attend the races."

To replace Stepney, the role of Race Operations Manager will be taken by David Lloyd, while Luigi Mazzola has become the new Test Team and Test Operations Performance Manager. Both of these men report to the head of Track Activity.