Ferrari has won the legal battle to block former technical director Enrico Cardile from assuming his new Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer role until mid-2025.
The Italian court ruling, issued in Modena, enforces the terms of the Italian aerodynamicist’s non-compete agreement with the Scuderia and prevents him from collaborating with the Silverstone-based team until July 18.
Enrico Cardile, who spent two decades at Ferrari and rose to prominence as the chassis and aerodynamics technical director, announced his departure from the Scuderia in July 2024.
Within 24 hours of Cardile’s resignation, he was confirmed as the Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer in a newly created role. The move was widely seen as a strategic coup for the team which has been aggressively bolstering its technical lineup ahead of the major regulation changes set to transform Formula 1 in 2026.
However, Ferrari’s legal battle has delayed the 49-year old’s transition, ensuring he will not contribute to Aston Martin’s efforts until the second half of the 2025 F1 season.
Ferrari’s legal argument centered on the enforcement of Enrico Cardile’s gardening leave and non-compete clause. These contractual provisions are common in Formula 1 to prevent rival teams from gaining an immediate competitive edge through the hiring of key personnel.
According to the Maranello outfit, Cardile had already begun collaborating with Aston Martin in violation of these terms. The Modena court sided with the team ruling that Cardile must cease all forms of cooperation with Aston Martin until his gardening leave expires.
In a statement via The Race, Ferrari highlighted that this measure was necessary to protect their intellectual property and prevent “irreparable harm” to their competitive position.
It reads: “With reference to the recent news regarding the timing of Enrico Cardile’s arrival at Aston Martin, Ferrari clarifies that a few weeks ago the Court of Modena, upholding the requests of the Company, ordered Enrico Cardile to immediately cease any form of collaboration with Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team until next July 18.
“In this urgent procedural phase, the Court of Modena found that our former employee was already violating the non-compete commitment with Ferrari, whose purpose was precisely to prevent other F1 teams from gaining an unjustified competitive advantage by hiring Cardile earlier than allowed, causing irreparable harm to Ferrari.”
Aston Martin, for its part, has remained tight-lipped about the situation. The team issued a brief statement acknowledging the legal proceedings but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing nature of the dispute.
Team Principal Andy Cowell and Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll have expressed confidence in their technical team’s ability to navigate this setback.
However, insiders suggest that Stroll is privately frustrated by the delay, which could limit Enrico Cardile’s influence on Aston Martin’s development plans for both the current and future seasons.
The timing of Ferrari’s legal battle could not be more critical for Aston Martin. The team is aiming to capitalize on Formula 1’s upcoming regulatory overhaul in 2026, which will introduce new chassis and power unit regulations.
These changes represent a rare opportunity for teams to reset the competitive order, and Aston Martin has been investing heavily in preparation. The Silverstone-based outfit recently unveiled a state-of-the-art factory and wind tunnel facility and secured high-profile hires such as legendary designer Adrian Newey and former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell.
Enrico Cardile’s appointment as the new Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer was intended to complement these efforts by bringing fresh expertise and leadership.
His extensive experience at Ferrari, where he played a pivotal role in chassis and aerodynamic development, was expected to provide valuable insights as Aston Martin seeks to challenge Formula 1’s traditional powerhouses.
However, with his start date now delayed until mid-2025, Cardile’s ability to shape Aston Martin’s 2026 car could be significantly diminished.
Once he officially joins the team in July he will face the dual challenge of integrating into an already established technical structure while quickly making an impact on the team’s long-term ambitions.
