F1 News: Ferrari Chief Hints At Top Engineer Poached From Other Team
Ferrari’s pursuit of a new technical director appears to be nearing its conclusion, as indicated by recent remarks from team leader Frederic Vasseur. Despite some bumps in the road, Vasseur insinuated that Ferrari would soon reveal the identity of an accomplished engineer about to join their ranks.
Since the departure of Mattia Binotto last year, who served both as team principal and head of technical operations, Ferrari’s technical director position has been unfilled. Following Binotto’s exit, Vasseur took the helm as team leader, but the search for a specific technical chief has continued for the past six months.
During an interview with Autosprint, Vasseur revealed that Ferrari has succeeded in landing an esteemed engineer for the position. Nevertheless, because of certain circumstances, this latest recruit won’t begin his or her duties until 2025. Vasseur elaborated:
“He will work on the car only in 2025 and for 2026. It sounds like a long wait, but if you don’t act, it could be even worse in six months. You must accept these conditions as the basis of F1. If at a certain point you stop, it will mean further postponing the effects.”
The new technical director’s identity is still under wraps, but indications are that this person is presently involved with another F1 team. A typical practice in the sports industry requires professionals to take a break before switching teams, a measure aimed at avoiding the spillage of trade secrets.
The Maranello squad has had a tough time accruing enough points to secure a place in the top three for the 2023 season thus far. Currently, Ferrari stands in fourth place with a tally of 122 points, trailing behind Aston Martin’s third position with 154 points.
Carlos Sainz presently holds the fifth position in the drivers’ championship with 68 points, while his teammate Charles Leclerc is not too far behind, ranking seventh with 54 points.
