Rosberg surprised by Mercedes lack of tech staff poaching

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Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg says he's surprised his former team hasn't poached technical staff from rival outfits in light of its recent design issues.

Formula 1 has seen several high-profile transfers of senior engineers between teams recently.

Aston Martin convinced former Red Bull aero chief Dan Fallows to move from Milton Keynes to Silverstone, a hiring that became effect last year.

More recently, McLaren announced that Red Bull engineering chief Rob Marshall would be joining the Woking-based outfit at the start of 2024, while team papaya also secured the services of Ferrari's chief engineer for vehicle concept David Sanchez.

Mercedes on the other hand has relied on an internal restructuring of its engineering department to improve its organization, with Mike Elliott and James Allison trading places, with the latter returning to his role as technical director.

Rosberg found it "strange" that the Brackely squad had not head-hunted senior engineers in the paddock.

Read also:

McLaren: 'No link' between Marshall hiring and Red Bull engine deal

"I’ve heard that Dan Fallows has also been quadrupled in salary plus an equity stake in the team," Rosberg told Sky F1.

"The teams are going for it to try and get the talent from Red Bull which is the normal way in F1. That’s what always happens.

"Mercedes – strange that they haven’t been a little bit more active there.

"The knowledge that you also get around a set of regulations when you take someone from the best team is just so valuable. Perhaps that’s a little surprising."

However, Rosberg admitted that there is still abundant engineering talent at Mercedes, expertise that will certainly be put to good use to make the most of the recent inadvertent reveal of the most defining element of Red Bull's dominant RB19.

"Then again, of course, they have incredible talent at Mercedes and now the pictures from Monaco help a lot because thanks to Sergio [Perez]’s crash," added the 2016 F1 world champion.

"There are beautiful pictures of the underbody of the car which they can now take from those pictures and create a whole CAD model and do a whole accurate design in the computer of what that car is actually doing.

"That makes it very easy to start to really understand and learn about that Red Bull car."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.