Scuderia Ferrari operates on two fronts. On one side is communication, and on the other is practical operation. These two aspects do not always intersect. In fact, they often remain distinct, and it is a specific strategic choice that leads to this division, which at times is so clear that it seems almost unbelievable. But there is a clear method behind all of this.
Maranello is in the midst of organizational restructuring, a process that necessarily takes time. Publicly, the leaders of the Scuderia have alluded, more than once, to an ambitious recruitment campaign in terms of both the number and the caliber of acquisitions. If Ferrari needs to strengthen its workforce, Frédéric Vasseur and his closest collaborators must have thought that it is better to do so with high-level profiles.
These are the intentions, but then come the actual negotiations, which can take longer and may encounter the usual obstacles that arise when you knock on a competitor’s door to poach a significant professional. And so, to return to the beginning of this text, verbal statements do not necessarily coincide with immediate practical lessons. In these days, Fred Vasseur is working to bridge this temporal gap by bringing the first top technicians to Maranello. These technicians could serve as a foundation to attract even higher-profile individuals.
Ferrari: Frédéric Vasseur’s extensive restructuring
The manager from France, who has been leading the Ferrari Racing Division since the beginning of January, recently made no secret of his intention to announce a “top guy” (his words) who would join a technical department in need of stabilization after the rearrangement that followed the sudden and unexpected departure – at least for those operating outside the red walls – of David Sanchez, who flew to the UK. The most popular name is that of Loic Serra, who currently holds the significant role of Performance Director at Mercedes.
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Behind this rather broad definition lies a professional, who grew up in Michelin, responsible for coordinating experts in tires, suspensions, aerodynamics, and power units to ensure that these various resources work together in symbiosis to maximize the car’s performance.
Neither Ferrari nor Mercedes have confirmed this, but some clues suggest that the rumor is more credible. In fact, the Brackley team has recently hired Adil El Ouazizi, the former team leader of aerodynamic development at Red Bull, where he worked for five and a half years after initially training at Ferrari. With his credentials and skills, he could potentially replace the Frenchman Loic Serra.
Red Bull, once a benchmark in current Formula 1, has become a hunting ground for teams that need to make up ground. And it is precisely towards Milton Keynes that the eyes of Ferrari executives turn, who are not satisfied with the likely arrival of Loic Serra, and hold on, we won’t see him roaming around the province of Modena so soon. And if he does, it will be to recharge his batteries while waiting to take possession of his offices.
Mercedes, not exactly thrilled about losing a technician of certain importance, has reportedly imposed an 18-month gardening leave. In other words, Loic Serra will be with the red team from January 1, 2025. In fact, he will be directly working on the 2026 project that must comply with the new regulatory framework under definition.
Ferrari: Loic Serra to get to Pierre Waché
In the meantime, what will the Mercedes engineer do? According to some, the scenario is this: the French technician is very close to Pierre Waché, technical director of Red Bull. The latter is the target of many team principals and especially the seemingly nonchalant Frédéric Vasseur. Ferrari’s real goal would be the highly sought-after piece of the Austrian team, which is trying to put up barriers to protect their engineer.
When Chris Horner was questioned about this, he seemed rather annoyed, reaffirming that no top-profile technician would leave Milton Keynes to go elsewhere, including Ferrari. Pierre Waché himself, one of the architects of Red Bull’s dominance, doesn’t seem so attracted to the idea of joining Ferrari because, from the outside, there is too much confusion perceived, and it is believed that, as of today, Maranello lacks the tools to win immediately.
But things can change rapidly, especially if Ferrari consistently returns to more noble positions in the standings. To truly convince Waché, it takes more than just packages of money (they pay quite well at Red Bull); Ferrari needs to develop a professional framework of a higher level than the current one. A group that exudes solidity, strength, and competence to the outside world. This is the strongest temptation for ambitious professionals.
For now, Ferrari cannot offer all of this, and for this reason, Fred Vasseur is working day and night to create a top-notch technical team that can attract top engineers. Loic Serra could be a name that acts as a magnet, but clearly, he alone may not be enough. For this reason, Fred is accelerating to define an organizational structure that can be winning in the long term and appealing in the immediate future.
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