Aldo Costa

Aldo Costa (born 5 June 1961) is an Italian mechanical engineer who has served as chief technical officer at Dallara since 2020. After earning his degree from the University of Bologna, he began his Formula One career in 1988 as chief car designer for Minardi, rising to technical director by 1989 and staying in that role until 1995. During his time there, the team achieved its first front-row qualifying spot and a best race result of fourth place. He moved to Ferrari in 1995, where he became a key figure in the team’s dominant run from 1999 to 2008, working first as assistant to the chief designer (1998–2004), then as chief designer (2004–2006), head of design and development (2006–2007), and chassis and technical director (2007–2011).

Costa left Ferrari in 2011 to join Mercedes as engineering director, contributing to another period of dominance from 2014 to 2018, and served as a technical consultant in 2019. Over his career, his cars competed in 567 Grands Prix, securing 192 wins, 192 pole positions, 414 podiums, and 159 fastest laps. His work at Ferrari and Mercedes helped produce 28 world championships—14 constructors’ and 12 drivers’ titles—making him one of the most successful engineers in Formula One history. His championship-winning cars alone accounted for 168 wins, 165 poles, 354 podiums, and 135 fastest laps. He also contributed to race-winning or title-contending cars in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013.

Born in Parma on 5 June 1961, Costa attended the Liceo Scientifico Giacomo Ulivi from 1976 to 1980, graduating with a score of 54 out of 60. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Bologna from 1981 to 1986, earning a PhD with a grade of 100 out of 100. His thesis, “Progettazione assistita di sospensioni di vetture F1 – presso Ferrari S.p.A. Gestione Sportiva,” focused on Formula One suspension systems and drew on data from Ferrari’s racing department. In 1987, he passed the state exam to become a professional engineer and joined the Register of Engineers of the Province of Parma.

After graduating, Costa worked at Abarth in Turin, part of the Fiat group, where his father was employed. During his 18-month stint, from September 1987 to February 1988, he worked in the calculation department as a stress engineer, using CAD/CAM to design rally cars like the Lancia Delta Integrale. At age 27, his work caught the attention of Giancarlo Minardi, who hired him as chief designer for the Minardi Formula One team.

At Minardi, Costa initially focused on suspension design while Nigel Cowperthwaite handled aerodynamics. He succeeded Giacomo Caliri as technical director in 1989 and oversaw all technical matters until late 1995. His roles included structural calculation engineer (head of structural office from March 1988 to July 1989), car chief designer (July 1989 to January 1991), and technical director (January 1991 to August 1995). Under his leadership, Minardi achieved a historic front-row start with Pierluigi Martini at the 1990 United States Grand Prix, where Martini also set the second fastest lap, and multiple fourth-place finishes between 1991 and 1993. These results helped secure a Ferrari engine supply deal starting in 1991.

At Ferrari, Costa’s first project was developing the Ferrari F50 GT for the BPR Global GT Series, a role he held from September 1995 to January 1996. He then became head of chassis design office in January 1996, a position he kept until July 2004, and was promoted to head of chassis design within sports management in 1997. In 1998, he became assistant to chief designer Rory Byrne, working closely with Ross Brawn. From 1999 to 2008, Ferrari won eight constructors’ titles and six drivers’ titles, with Costa playing a key role in designing the cars that defined that era.