F1 | Ferrari appoints a key figure: the new performance operation manager is immediately operational
Ferrari has appointed a new performance operation manager ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the new figure set to begin work immediately at Maranello.
Ferrari is reported to have hired a new performance operation manager on the eve of the 2026 campaign. The key figure arrives directly from Racing Bulls and will start working at the Maranello headquarters as early as tomorrow. The decision was made by Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, who continues to strengthen the technical structure by bringing in new engineering talent.
According to information reported by AutoRacer.it, the new hire is Guillaume Dezoteux. The French engineer has followed a professional path similar to that of Loïc Serra, who is already part of the Ferrari organization, having started his career as a tyre performance engineer at Michelin. His move from the Faenza-based team is also seen as an advantage in terms of adaptation, given his familiarity with the Formula 1 environment and modern operational structures.
The new figure joining Ferrari
Guillaume Dezoteux joins Ferrari in the role of performance operation manager, according to the Italian website AutoRacer. The French engineer previously worked at Toro Rosso, where he held the position of head of car performance. His most recent experience came with Racing Bulls, where his tenure concluded at the end of the 2025 season.
Frédéric Vasseur has previously confirmed that he intended to rely on several new figures to reshape and strengthen the organizational structure at Maranello. The team principal’s plan is now taking clearer shape with the arrival of the French engineer. Guillaume Dezoteux’s role will be integrated within the technical organizational structure, alongside figures such as Diego Tondi, who is already responsible for aerodynamic development.
Ferrari has started the 2026 season with encouraging signs emerging from the Barcelona tests. The early direction and development path of the car project will be crucial, particularly during the initial phase of the championship. From this perspective, the first upgrades scheduled for the SF-26 will play a significant role in defining the team’s competitiveness.
Fred Vasseur himself has underlined that being the outright fastest team in Australia will not be essential at this stage. Nevertheless, Ferrari can take confidence from the positive reliability feedback gathered from the mileage already completed, which provides a solid foundation on which to build as development continues throughout the season.
The hiring of Guillaume Dezoteux as Head of Performance Operations therefore marks another calculated step in Fred Vasseur’s restructuring of Ferrari, ensuring the team has the operational precision to match its 2026 technical ambitions. By bringing in a veteran with deep roots in tire performance and vehicle dynamics from the Red Bull family, Maranello is directly addressing the “driveability” and setup optimization that Vasseur has identified as critical for the new regulation era. As Dezoteux begins his collaboration with Loïc Serra and Diego Tondi, his immediate focus will likely be translating the positive reliability data from the Barcelona shakedown into a robust development roadmap for the SF-26. While the team remains cautious about their standing for the Australian opener, this influx of specialized French engineering talent suggests that Ferrari is building a more agile and efficient technical core designed to sustain a season-long title challenge.
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