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Engineer: Ferrari shake-up 'impressive'

ROME, Italy - To some, the 'restructuring' at Maranello in recent days and weeks has resembled Italian chaos.

However Luca Furbatto, a prominent F1 designer who has moved from Toro Rosso to McLaren for 2015, says the moves so far by new Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene so far have seemed "impressive".

One of his decisions was to sign ousted Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne as tester - which surprised most F1 insiders.

'BEGINNERS DISADVANTAGED'

Furbatto told Ferrari insider Leo Turrini's blog: "Jev is fast and he's a fighter.  In the race he never gives up. I know some are wondering why Ferrari didn't offer the opportunity to (Davide) Rigon or (Raffaele) Marciello but I think there is a very sensible explanation.

"Today, unfortunately, the rules do not allow track testing, so the very young or the absolute beginners are disadvantaged. Vergne has three seasons of experience and in the simulator has worked a lot with (engineer Riccardo) Adami, who's now gone to Maranello with Vettel.

"From a distance," he continued, "I have the impression that Arrivabene has understood very well what Ferrari needs.  The revolution taking place at the level of the racing department is impressive. It is good to have at the helm someone such as (James) Allison: one of the best in the business, one who speaks Italian, is understood.

"It seems Arrivabene is shaping a team according to a pyramid structure, with clear roles and responsibilities. This is encouraging; with clarity, results will come. It may seem strange from someone working for McLaren but I hope for this (Ferrari's success) with all my heart."

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