Performance simulations for motorsport applications
The speech will explore the role of mathematical models and algorithms in the motorsport industry, with a particular focus on how they support performance evaluation and the definition of development targets. Attention will be given to the importance of realistic correlation through detailed physical modelling, followed by a classification of numerical methods applied to different vehicle-dynamics-related problems. Finally, the presentation will highlight state-of-the-art simulation tools for minimum-lap-time analysis, which account for dynamic effects to provide deeper insights into vehicle behaviour.
Speakers:
Andrea Colavero - Formula One Performance Simulation and Modelling Engineer
Andrea Colavero earned both his BCs and MCs degrees at the University of Trento, in Industrial Engineering (2022) and Mechatronics Engineering (2024), respectively. During his academic journey, he was an active member of the Formula SAE team for two years, serving as Head of the Dynamics and Control area. This role provided him with hands-on experience in engineering design and project management within a competitive international environment. Building on this background, he carried out his MCs thesis in collaboration with Scuderia Ferrari, focusing on the effect of thermal brake and tyre model interaction in a minimum-lap-time optimal-control framework. Following this experience, he began his professional career at Scuderia Ferrari in 2024 as a Performance Simulation and Modelling Engineer.
linkedin.com/in/andreacolavero
Matteo Veneri - Formula One Performance Simulation and Modelling Engineer
Matteo Veneri obtained his BCs degree (with honors) in Industrial Engineering at the University of Trento (Italy) in 2014 and his MSc degree (with honors) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Padova (Italy) in 2016. At the University of Padova, in 2019, he also completed his PhD in Industrial Engineering, with a thesis focused on the mathematical models and simulations for predicting the minimum-lap-time attained by a racing vehicle. He started his experience in Scuderia Ferrari in 2019 as a Performance Simulation-Development Specialist, focusing his contribution on minimum-lap-time simulations and vehicle-dynamics applications. He contributed in one of the most critical evolutions of the simulation tools in the last few years at Scuderia Ferrari. He was given the chance to lead his group in 2022. In this role, he focused his efforts both in ensuring the team was delivering best-in-class simulation-tools by showing a continuous technical improvement, and in facilitating the career development of his colleagues. In 2025, he graduated at the Ferrari Global MBA program, which allowed him to participate to full-immersion study-periods both in Italy, in the US and in China.
linkedin.com/in/matteo-veneri-07a999101