Red Bull has taken another notable step in reshaping its Formula 1 operation by securing the services of long-time Ferrari figure Gino Rosato, adding one of the paddock’s most experienced and well-connected personalities to its evolving structure.
The appointment comes at a particularly significant moment for the Milton Keynes-based team, which has spent the past two seasons navigating a major internal transition following the departure of several key senior figures. While Gino Rosato’s role will initially be on a freelance consultancy basis rather than as a full-time executive appointment, his arrival is widely viewed as another strategic move in Red Bull’s rebuilding effort.
The former Ferrari veteran is expected to begin work immediately and is understood to attend a select number of Formula 1 race weekends, likely in the range of eight to ten events across the season. His presence in Montreal has already underlined how quickly the arrangement has been activated.
Why Gino Rosato matters for Red Bull’s Formula 1 project
Gino Rosato brings almost three decades of Ferrari experience, having been deeply embedded within the Maranello organisation from the mid-1990s until 2023. During that time, he became one of the most recognisable and trusted operational figures inside Ferrari’s Formula 1 environment, working across multiple eras of the team’s modern history.
His time at Ferrari included the legendary Michael Schumacher championship era, where he worked closely within the Scuderia structure during one of the most dominant periods Formula 1 has ever seen. Beyond his formal experience, Gino Rosato is known for exceptionally strong personal relationships throughout the paddock. He is understood to maintain a particularly close relationship with Max Verstappen and Jos Verstappen, a factor that naturally adds intrigue to his arrival at Red Bull.
His longstanding friendship with Kimi Raikkonen is equally well known, with Gino Rosato even serving as godfather to Robin Raikkonen. That blend of institutional knowledge, paddock relationships, and race-weekend operational experience makes him a potentially valuable addition for a team managing a sensitive transition period.
Red Bull’s ongoing rebuild after major departures
Red Bull’s internal structure has changed dramatically in recent years.
The departure of Adrian Newey marked the loss of one of Formula 1’s greatest technical minds, while Jonathan Wheatley’s exit removed a crucial operational leader from the team’s pit wall structure. Leadership changes elsewhere further accelerated the transformation of the organisation.
The current project is now focused on building a refreshed competitive structure under team principal Laurent Mekies, with multiple appointments already reinforcing that direction. Ben Waterhouse has taken on an expanded role as chief performance and design engineer, while Andrea Landi has joined as head of performance — both clear signals that Red Bull is actively rebuilding rather than standing still.
Against that backdrop, Gino Rosato’s arrival may appear unconventional given the freelance nature of the arrangement, but Formula 1 teams increasingly value experienced consultants capable of offering flexible operational insight without requiring permanent structural integration. Importantly, Gino Rosato is not expected to appear in official Red Bull team kit, reflecting the consultancy nature of the agreement rather than a formal executive move.
What this could mean for the 2026 Formula 1 battle
While Gino Rosato’s role may not directly influence car performance in the traditional technical sense, Formula 1 success increasingly depends on marginal gains beyond pure engineering. Race operations, paddock intelligence, relationship management, and internal organisational efficiency can all play critical roles in title campaigns.
As Red Bull prepares for an increasingly competitive Formula 1 landscape, adding a seasoned Ferrari insider with decades of elite motorsport experience could prove to be a quietly smart move.
In a sport where information, trust, and experience are often as valuable as outright speed, Red Bull’s latest signing may carry more strategic significance than first appears.
