Davide Mazzoni: Being part of Ferrari is a great honor

Davide Mazzoni, head of Ferrari’s internal combustion engine department, spoke about the characteristics of the circuit in Spielberg…

Q: What is unique about the track in Spielberg for motorcycle specialists?
David Mazzoni: The part of the first sector leading into the third corner consists of slow corners connected by long straights going up the hill. Not only the engine power is important, but also the controllability to achieve effective acceleration.

In addition, the course in Spielberg is located at an altitude of almost 700 meters. And while this generally does not affect the power of the turbo engine, it does require special settings.

Q: You can use DRS on three long straights. What will be the load on the power plant?
David Mazzoni: The presence of three DRS zones on a relatively short track with small braking points requires optimization of the plant’s energy management system. Consisting of ERS, MGU-K, MGU-H and an internal combustion engine, this system will be subjected to heavy loads due to the continuous transfer of energy from the recovery phase to its release in high-speed sections to achieve good lap times and overtaking opportunities.

Question: Tell us about yourself. Which road brought you to Ferrari, what does it mean for you to work for this company?
David Mazzoni: When I started studying engineering, I dreamed of one day driving a Ferrari. Then it became a goal that I could achieve.

In a career spanning almost 30 years, I have been able to contribute to the development of high performance engines for both racing and road vehicles with two and four wheelers.

I first joined Ferrari in Michael Schumacher’s time, as a young and very passionate engineer – and I was lucky enough to work in an incredible team. Now I enjoy this experience with the same enthusiasm, knowing that Ferrari is unique and that it is a great honor to be part of it.