According to a report in the Italian media, Ferrari is trying to take advantage of the turmoil within the Red Bull team by poaching four engineers from the reigning champions. Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has been aggressively recruiting since taking over last season in an effort to bring the team back to the top. One of his successful acquisitions was Mercedes Performance Director Loic Serra, which is rumored to have influenced Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. Now, it is rumored that Vasseur has set his sights on personnel from Red Bull, who have been the dominant force in the sport this season. Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that Ferrari is targeting three individuals who work closely with Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache, who collaborates with Adrian Newey. The names mentioned are aerodynamicist Alessandro Germani, Head of Performance Ben Waterhouse, and Aero Trackside Leader David Morgan. Additionally, Enrico Balbo, an Italian engineer who previously worked at Mercedes and now serves as Head of Aerodynamics at Red Bull, has also been linked to Ferrari. While Red Bull has been successful on the track with their RB20 car in 2024, much of the attention has been on the team’s internal issues. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was investigated by the parent company following allegations of misconduct by a female colleague. Despite being cleared of the allegations, the tension within the team led Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, to suggest that Horner’s presence had become untenable. Ferrari was previously rumored to have attempted to sign Wache, and their interest in Newey is well-known. However, recent reports suggest that Newey has become worn down by the tense atmosphere at Red Bull, opening the door for Ferrari to make a move. Ferrari is said to be willing to offer Newey the opportunity to work on road and endurance cars, as well as boats, in addition to his F1 commitments. This more flexible structure could be an enticing proposition for F1’s most successful car designer. Ferrari chairman John Elkann was present at the recent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and was seen meeting with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff. However, it is believed that their discussion focused on F1’s next Concorde Agreement, which deals with financial and commercial regulations agreed upon by the teams.
McLaughlin was ecstatic when he exited his vehicle. Photo: Kevin DejewskiThe qualifying session on Saturday afternoon marked the culmination of two full days of the swiftest laps IndyCar...
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