LONDON // Pat Fry, the former McLaren-Mercedes chief engineer, is joining Formula One rivals Ferrari as assistant technical director from July 1, the team said in a statement yesterday. The 46-year-old, who last month announced he was leaving McLaren, spent 18 years with the British-based team. He will report directly to Aldo Costa, Ferrari's technical director. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, McLaren's world champions, are currently first and second in the drivers' championship ahead of Sunday's European Grand Prix in Valencia. The team also lead Red Bull-Racing in the constructors' standings. Ferrari, who recently celebrated their 800th race, are third overall.
"Whenever somebody of Pat's calibre leaves the team it is sad, and we like Pat very much and he is a fine engineer but people have their lives to lead and want to do other things," Jonathan Neale, McLaren's managing director, told reporters last month. "It doesn't give me any concern for the performance of the team or what we do for next year's car at all because we are still a team that has strength in depth and we are committed to maintaining that."
* Reuters
