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RacingNews365’s technical analyst Paolo Filisetti takes a look the surprise departure of two Ferrari engineers to Audi, and what it means for wider F1.
It has been a week since the news of Mattia Binotto signing two Ferrari engine engineers to join Audi’s 2026 F1 season attack broke. The departures of Wolf Zimmermann and Lars Schmidt have raised concerns about Maranello’s technical department’s readiness for the upcoming major rules reset. With the new power units featuring increased electrical power of 350kw, all engine manufacturers are bracing for the challenges of the new regulations. Despite rumors indicating a shift in power dynamics, recent reports suggest that Ferrari’s 2026 power unit design is already advanced and focused on performance optimization at higher temperatures. The movement of engineers between teams, including rumors of Mercedes specialists joining Ferrari, is indicative of the competitive and strategic landscape among the top F1 teams. The ongoing developments hint at more surprises in technical transfers across various departments within the top teams.
