Chris Dyer's redefined role at Ferrari is factory-based and on "the production side", according to a specialist report. Following the race strategy gaffe that cost Fernando Alonso the 2010 title, Australian Dyer was stepped down as head of track engineering. Ferrari said he would get a "redefined" role for 2011. An article by veteran correspondent Heikki Kulta in Finland's Turun Sanomat claims that role is relating to production, with 42-year-old Dyer - formerly race engineer to Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen - to be stationed at Maranello. The report also said Schumacher would be happy to reunite with Dyer at Mercedes. Ferrari's post-Dyer engineering structure features ex McLaren and men Pat Fry and Neil Martin in newly prominent roles. A bit unfair for Dyer really - similar thing happened to Luca Baldiserri a couple of years ago. It's pretty much the way a company is expected to behave if there is pressure to change due to something happening.
My sympathy for Dyer only stretches so far (I'd love the job he's been demoted to). This seems a little bit harsh though, their early-mid season obsession with the F-duct was a far more costly mistake than Dyer's error of judgement in Abu Dhabi.
As was Alonso's inability to overtake the number two Renault in about 34 laps of trying. If ever there was a goat that had been well and truly scaped, Dyer is it.
The Abu Dhabi flop was mainly down do the fact that they followed the wrong Red Bull driver into the pits. If they'd have gone in when Vettel did, Alonso may have jumped them positions up to the McLaren's. Then again, Alonso did make a mess of that race getting stuck behind a rookie - and they say he's god at overtaking
I can only think of Kobayashi, though that kid kamakazi's. when you are in a championship race you want to keep your car intact. 2009 also had fuel stops so the cars would be light and have fresher tyres. Im just not a fan of that track, to many short straights coming into winding corners
