Why Ferrari’s Formula 1 team enjoys unmatched staff loyalty compared to other teams
In recent months, the Formula 1 paddock has witnessed a significant reshuffling of top engineering talent. On Monday, it was confirmed that Will Courtenay, formerly a senior strategist at Red Bull Racing, has joined McLaren’s engineering team, highlighting the ongoing movement of key personnel across the grid.
Courtenay’s departure is part of a broader exodus from Red Bull. Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s long-serving sporting director, has moved to Sauber, while Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is reportedly considering new opportunities. Meanwhile, Adrian Newey, the legendary technical mastermind behind Red Bull’s championship-winning cars between 2010 and 2024, has taken on the role of team principal at Aston Martin, marking one of the most high-profile moves in recent F1 history.
Other teams are seeing similar changes. Loic Serra, who transitioned from Mercedes in late 2024, has now completed his first Ferrari F1 car design, showing that while the driver ‘silly season’ often dominates headlines, the market for technical staff is just as dynamic and competitive.
Ferrari’s enduring culture of loyalty among engineers and staff
Despite these movements across the paddock, Ferrari remains a remarkable exception when it comes to staff retention. While high-profile departures such as Enrico Cardile, who left Ferrari to work under Adrian Newey at Aston Martin, make headlines, they are rare. According to F1 journalist Nate Saunders, speaking on Nailing The Apex, nearly 90% of Ferrari employees have been with the team for more than ten years.
Most staff at Maranello spend the majority of their careers at Ferrari, a reflection of the team’s status as the oldest, most successful, and most prestigious outfit in Formula 1. Saunders, who has authored a book on the Italian team, noted that Ferrari employees often join at a young age and remain for decades, demonstrating a level of commitment and loyalty unmatched in the sport.
“When people start working at Ferrari, whether they are 21, 28, or 35, once they join the team, they rarely leave. This is unlike any other F1 team,” Saunders explained. “About 90% of Ferrari’s current staff have been with the team for one or even two decades. Enzo Ferrari himself had the same personal assistant for his entire life, and she was only recently retired after years of continued support. This sense of loyalty is deeply ingrained in the culture; anything less than complete dedication is seen as a disservice to the team.”
Leadership turnover at Ferrari doesn’t diminish team commitment
Even though Ferrari has experienced regular changes in team principal, with no leader keeping the role for more than three years since Stefano Domenicali left in 2014, this does not reflect a lack of continuity among the technical and operational staff. Most team principals are removed rather than leaving voluntarily, and the broader consensus within the F1 industry is that working for Ferrari represents the pinnacle of a motorsport career.
Potential impacts on Ferrari’s 2026 season
Ferrari have also already identified internal challenges that could affect their upcoming season. Enrico Cardile, who left after formulating the 2025 car concept, was privately blamed for performance issues during the campaign. Similarly, engine chief Wolf Zimmermann departed to join Audi along with his assistant Lars Schmidt, a move that may have destabilized Ferrari’s development trajectory for 2026 despite replacements being in place.
Fans will need to wait until the start of the 2026 season to evaluate how these staff changes impact on-track performance. Early analysis suggests that engine performance may play a more decisive role than aerodynamics in determining the competitive order, potentially influencing Ferrari’s championship hopes.
