People

Paolo Martinelli

From Ferrari's home town of Modena, Martinelli grew up surrounded by the company's influence. He wanted to become an engineer and won a place to study mechanical engineering at the renowned Bologna University from where he graduated in 1978. He immediately joined the Ferrari company and worked his way up through the engine design and development departments to become head of engines for Ferrari production cars.

In 1994 he was put in charge of Formula 1 engine design and immediately instigated an investigation into the relative merits of a V8, a V10 and a V12 engine. The team eventually decided that the V10 was the best compromise and the company began running V10 engines in 1996. Martinelli has been in charge of the racing engines at Ferrari ever since and has enjoyed enormous success with Michael Schumacher.