Stefano Domenicali has resigned as Team Principal of Ferrari following the team’s poor start to the new F1 season.
Ferrari currently sit fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, 78 points behind leaders Mercedes.
Domenicali told the Ferrari website that it was a difficult decision, but the success of the team must come first.
“There are special moments that come along in everyone’s professional life, when one needs courage to take difficult and very agonising decisions,” he said to the Ferrari website.
“It is time for a significant change. As the boss, I take responsibility, as I have always done, for our current situation.
“This decision has been taken with the aim of doing something to shake things up and for the good of this group of people that I feel very close to.
“With all my heart, I thank all the men and women in the team, the drivers and the partners for the wonderful relationship we have enjoyed over all these years.
“I hope that very soon, Ferrari will be back where it deserves to be.
“My final words of thanks go to our President, for having always supported me and to all our fans.
“I only regret that we have been unable to harvest what we worked so hard to sow in recent years.”
Domenicali will be replaced by Marco Mattiacci, who is the current president of Ferrari North America.
During his first year in charge in 2008, Domenicali won Ferrari’s last Constructors’ Championship.
The year before the Italian team had won the Drivers’ Championship with Kimi Raikkonen claiming the title.
However, since then Ferrari have yet to win either championships and at the most recent Bahrain grand prix their two drivers finished in ninth and tenth place.
Domenicali’s resignation comes in the wake of reports on Monday morning that he would step down from his post.
While Mattiacci has been named as his replacement, some outlets claim that this is a temporary appointment, with Ross Brawn linked with a return to Ferrari.
