Ferrari announced a restructuring of their Formula One technical department on Wednesday after struggling in the first three races of a season so far dominated by Mercedes.

The sport's oldest, most glamorous and successful team – last year's runners-up – rank fifth now, collecting only 27 points compared with 121 of leaders Mercedes, and Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc are pushed into more of a midfield battle.

Ferrari said in a statement the team would have a more focused and simplified chain of command, with the heads of each department given "the necessary powers to achieve their objectives."

Ferrari said Enrico Cardile would head up a new Performance Development department.

"We are making changes to the technical side of the organization so as to speed up the design and development on the car performance front," said principal Mattia Binotto.

"The department run by Enrico Cardile will be able to count on the experience of Rory Byrne and established engineers such as David Sanchez. It will be the cornerstone of the car's development."

South African designer Byrne, 76, was a key figure during Ferrari's golden era in the early years of the century with seven-times champion Michael Schumacher in a team led by Jean Todt with Ross Brawn as technical director.

Ferrari have not won a driver's title since Kimi Raikkonen's success in 2007 while their last constructors' crown was in 2008.

Vettel, a four-time world champion with Red Bull, is leaving at the end of the year with Monegasque Leclerc the face of the future.