Ferrari struck by Red Bull public disclosure of engine hires

Mattia Binotto believes discretion is the better part of valor in F1, revealing that Ferrari has recruited many engineers from other teams in the past year, but contrary to Red Bull it has not publicly divulged those hires.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit has made very public its recruiting spree for its new Red Bull Powertrains engine department, detailing the hires of 15 members of its leadership structure who were all poached from arch-rival Mercedes.

RBP's engine plans and head-hunting initiatives have elevated the tensions between Red Bull and Mercedes, F1's championship contenders.

Binotto admitted that hiring personnel from a rival team was nothing new, although Ferrari has often kept its hiring under wraps.

"Over the last three years we've brought in over 30 engineers from other teams," Binotto told Corriere della Sera.

"Red Bull seem to be announcing all their hires rather than just signing them, while we are doing it without letting it be known."

Binotto also revealed that it is moving full steam ahead on its 2022 car, with the first chassis likely to be ready by the end of the summer, while the development of its current car is nearing an end.

"It’s a key moment because there are only a few weeks left before we have to freeze the project," he said.

"From next year, there is a regulation that will last for several years and you can’t be unprepared or careless because it’s not just 2022 but everything that comes after.

"It’s inevitable that this is the priority – right now, the new car is developing in line with our forecasts.

"We are at a point where important choices are being made on the aerodynamic concepts. In a month’s time, they will be defined and then we will start with the production of the first parts. Then we will work on the details, on the aerodynamic geometries.

"This means the time to update the current car is running out, if not already over, and that all efforts are being projected into next season.

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