Shopping spree from Red Bull
In recent weeks, there were many rumors that Scuderia Ferrari had reached an agreement with two Red Bull engineers, who would start working in Maranello from 2024, after the classic gardening leave period. However, their identities and their specific roles within the team dominating the Formula 1 world championship had not been disclosed until now.
In Sunday’s edition of the Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport, journalist Fulvio Solms revealed the first name that was being bounced around in the paddock: “One could be Enrico Balbo, head of aerodynamics in Milton Keynes and, therefore, a really good engineer who can make a difference when you have him in your team” The Italian engineer would be the third most important technician among the aerodynamicists of the Anglo-Austrian team, after Adrian Newey and technical director Pierre Waché.
Sky Germany also reported rumors from the paddock that Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, was trying to sign important engineers from Red Bull. On Sunday morning in Baku, Red Bull boss Christian Horner was seen leaving the Ferrari hospitality, presumably to speak with his French counterpart, as documented on Instagram by renowned photographer Mark Sutton. The image shows the British manager’s happiness at being “caught” by his historic rivals.
Who is Enrico Balbo?
43-year-old Italian Enrico Balbo currently serves as head of aerodynamics at Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology since July 2021. He has been with the company since January 2018, having been in charge of aerodynamic development for 19 months and head of aerodynamics for 25 months before that. From January 2014 to December 2017, he worked at Mercedes as the leader of the aerodynamics group working on future racing cars. Before his experience in Brackley, he spent 7 years at Williams, from June 2006 to December 2013, in various roles, first as a simple aerodynamicist, then as a track aerodynamicist, and finally as head of the aerodynamics team. Enrico Balbo studied in Italy, obtaining a five-year degree in aerospace engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin in 2004.
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