Ferrari to appoint Domenicali as team boss

MILAN, Nov 12 (Reuters) Ferrari will replace Jean Todt as their Formula One team boss with Stefano Domenicali from January, the world champions said in a statement today.

Domenicali will head the Gestione Sportiva, Ferrari's racing department, having served as sporting director.

Todt, who has been team principal on an interim basis, looks set to revert to his role as chief executive of the overall company, including the commercial car business.

The move follows news that former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn is joining Honda as team principal.

Brawn, the master strategist who helped Michael Schumacher win seven world championships with Benetton and Ferrari, had been on sabbatical from the Italian team since Schumacher retired at the end of 2006.

The 61-year-old Todt said in August that he had no intention of retiring amid speculation that Brawn could return as Ferrari team boss with Todt stepping down.

Ferrari have shuffled the rest of their backroom team with Mario Almondo becoming operations director, Aldo Costa taking on the role of technical director and France's Gilles Simon staying as engine director.

The statement also said further details about the organisation would be announced before the end of the year.

Domenicali's elevation means Ferrari's race team have gone back to the Italian roots of founder Enzo Ferrari after being run by Briton Brawn and Frenchman Todt.

Ferrari won this season's team championship after rivals McLaren were stripped of all their constructors' points for a spy scandal.

Ferrari's former employee Nigel Stepney, a compatriot and close associate of Brawn, faces legal action for allegedly leaking classified technical information to McLaren.

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 drivers' title by one point but a McLaren appeal on Thursday against a decision not to penalise BMW Sauber and Williams for fuel irregularities at the title-deciding Brazilian Grand Prix could alter matters.

Should three drivers have their results from last month's race nullified, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton could win enough points to be crowned world champion instead of Finn Raikkonen.

REUTERS RAR HT1948