P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has acquired the services of two senior Ferrari engineers as it bids to recover from a turbulent recent period
Autosport has learned that Ferrari’s former Chief Designer Simone Resta is set to join Mercedes as Strategic Development Director to work alongside Technical Director James Allison. Resta has been associated with Ferrari since 2001, and he held the position of Chief Designer from 2014 to 2018 before leading Alfa Romeo’s technical department for a period. Upon returning to Ferrari in 2019, Resta took on the role of Haas Technical Director in 2021 as part of the partnership between the two teams. However, due to Haas’ recent struggles, it was announced that Resta’s loan would be ended before Guenther Steiner’s departure. Resta, who had been rumored to potentially join Red Bull’s secondary team, will be joined in his move by Ferrari’s Driver Simulator Team Leader Enrico Sampo, who will become Head of Performance Software at Mercedes. Nevertheless, both Resta and Sampo will not be able to start their positions with Mercedes until 2025 after completing their gardening leave. This latest transition from Ferrari to Mercedes occurs as Ferrari has been actively recruiting talent from other teams on the grid, such as Loic Serra and Lewis Hamilton, with Mercedes also seeing changes as Driver Development Director Jerome D’Ambrosio is expected to move to Maranello. Looking ahead to the 2026 regulation changes, Mercedes has secured long-term commitments from Team Principal Toto Wolff and Technical Director James Allison, while David Nelson has been appointed as the new Senior Vehicle Dynamicist following Serra’s upcoming departure as Performance Director.
