Red Bull and a rival team, likely Mercedes, engaged in an off-track battle to secure the services of engine specialist Angelo Rosetti from Ferrari, with Red Bull ultimately emerging as the victor, according to reports.
As teams look ahead to the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, which will see a complete rewrite of the regulations, manufacturers are already seeking to assemble the best personnel for the new era. The upcoming regulations will prioritize electrical power and the use of fully sustainable fuels in the Internal Combustion Engine.
Italian outlet Motorsport.com reports that Ferrari has experienced setbacks on the power unit side, with Emanuele Guidotti and Angelo Rosetti, key figures in the Ferrari machine, leaving the team around a year ago. After completing their gardening leave period, Guidotti joined Mercedes, while Red Bull won the battle for Rosetti’s signature, reportedly against Mercedes. Red Bull Powertrains offered Rosetti a significantly higher salary compared to his earnings at Ferrari.
Both Guidotti, a turbo and simulation specialist, and Rosetti, described as a specialist in fluid dynamics and combustion, were long-serving members of the Ferrari team, with approximately nine and 12 years of service respectively.
Red Bull has become a popular destination for rival teams looking to strengthen their ranks, given their dominance in recent years. However, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur recently acknowledged that his team faces challenges in luring staff away from teams like Red Bull due to their location. With Red Bull and Mercedes, along with seven other F1 teams, based in the UK, Ferrari’s Maranello location in Italy makes it more difficult to secure personnel from rival teams.
The 2023 season has been challenging for Ferrari, but they showed strong performance in Austria, outperforming Aston Martin and Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc securing a P2 finish. This result provided a much-needed boost as Ferrari continues to test and develop their upgraded SF-23 car.