With the upcoming 2026 power unit regulations, rivals are knocking on Maranello’s door in search of industry specialists. Emanuele Guidotti, a turbo and simulation specialist, left Maranello after nearly nine years to join Mercedes, while Angelo Rosetti, who also seemed destined for the German team, has reportedly chosen to join Red Bull Powertrains, triggering a sort of bidding war for combustion experts.
The Formula 1 market for engineers is currently experiencing a high level of activity. The 2026 regulations have particularly stirred up the world of engine manufacturers due to the introduction of new power units that must generate fifty percent of power from a hybrid electric system alongside a six-cylinder internal combustion engine.
While Ferrari may not be attracting technicians from other teams, it seems that Fred Vasseur has admitted to securing a top engineer for 2025, whose identity he refuses to disclose (and it is not Pierre Waché, technical director at Red Bull, who is staying in Milton Keynes). The same cannot be said for the engineers at Maranello who are receiving interesting offers to move to the United Kingdom.
Spanish newspapers reported in recent days that two engineers working for Enrico Gualtieri had left Maranello about a year ago to join Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth, where the 2026 units are being developed.
Emanuele Guidotti, a turbo and simulation specialist, left Maranello after almost nine years to respond to an offer he received from Hywel Thomas, prompted by the Italian Lorenzo Sassi. He completed his gardening leave and has been working for the Italian contingent at Mercedes for about a month.
Angelo Rosetti, who was also rumored to be joining Mercedes, was sought after by two constructors and ultimately ended up in Milton Keynes, becoming a reinforcement for Red Bull Powertrains. The engineer from Formigine, a specialist in fluid dynamics and combustion, left the delicate R&D area after almost twelve years in Maranello and reportedly accepted a substantial offer from Red Bull Powertrains.
The Italian can bring his experience with the latest generation of Ferrari engines in terms of combustion chambers, and his contribution could be valuable, especially since the development of the new power unit seems to have concerned Christian Horner and Max Verstappen.
The task appeared to be easier than anticipated, but Red Bull would reportedly prefer a different distribution of energy between the internal combustion engine and the electric system. The intention would be to once again emphasize the value of the combustion engine, downsizing the electric component and returning to values more similar to the current ones. This revision is seen as necessary to overcome the project challenges that are emerging and causing difficulties for Red Bull Powertrains and Audi, who do not have the same expertise in power units as those in Formula 1.
Leave a Reply