Ferrari has undergone a significant change within its technical organisation just days before the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with ERS department chief Thierry Baritaud leaving the company. According to Leo Turrini, writing in today’s edition of Quotidiano Nazionale, Enrico Gualtieri will assume Thierry Baritaud’s responsibilities on an interim basis.
The timing of the departure inevitably attracts attention because Ferrari’s power unit and, in particular, its energy-recovery systems have been regarded as areas of weakness on the SF-26. Electrical energy recovery and deployment have become especially important under the current Formula 1 regulations, making the change particularly noteworthy as Ferrari prepares for its home Grand Prix.
Ferrari ERS chief Thierry Baritaud leaves Maranello
Leo Turrini reported that Thierry Baritaud, who was responsible for Ferrari’s ERS department, has left the Maranello company. His duties will temporarily pass to Enrico Gualtieri, Ferrari’s power unit technical director.
The organisational change comes at an important stage of the season, with the SF-26’s energy-recovery performance emerging as one of the technical areas under scrutiny. Ferrari’s engine and its associated energy-recovery systems are considered among the weaker aspects of the current car, increasing interest in whether further changes could follow within the technical structure.
Leo Turrini highlighted precisely that possibility: “It remains to be seen whether this departure could be the prelude to a further series of changes within the team.”
Change comes ahead of Ferrari’s crucial Monza weekend
Thierry Baritaud’s departure comes on the eve of Monza, where Ferrari is also preparing important work on the power unit. The Scuderia’s ADUO-2 engine development for the Italian Grand Prix has placed additional focus on the performance of the SF-26 power unit and its ability to close the gap to its rivals.
For now, Enrico Gualtieri will oversee Thierry Baritaud’s responsibilities alongside his existing position as Ferrari’s power unit technical director. Whether the departure remains an isolated organisational change or is followed by further restructuring inside the Scuderia remains to be seen.
Who is Thierry Baritaud?
French engineer Thierry Baritaud had been part of Ferrari since October 2000, holding a variety of positions involving both Formula 1 and the company’s road cars during more than two decades at Maranello.
For the past 18 years, Thierry Baritaud had worked on hybrid technology applied to racing, with his experience stretching back to the introduction of KERS and subsequently ERS. In 2017, he became responsible for Ferrari’s energy-recovery and turbo systems, placing him in a key position within the development of the Scuderia’s hybrid power units.
His departure therefore represents a notable change in an area that remains particularly important to Ferrari’s current technical programme. Further developments involving the SF-26, its hybrid system and the Maranello power unit can be followed in ScuderiaFans’ Ferrari technical analysis coverage.
Leave a Reply