©Mercedes
In a strategic move to bolster their engineering department, Mercedes has reportedly secured the talents of two prominent figures from Ferrari, including long-standing Scuderia engineer Simone Resta.
The latter, a former chief designer at Ferrari who also worked at Sauber and Haas, brings a wealth of experience and design expertise.
According to Motorsport.com which revealed the hirings, Resta will work closely with Mercedes' technical director James Allison on pushing forward crucial car-related projects.
Adding further firepower to Mercedes’ software development department is Enrico Sampo who will assume the role of Head of Performance Software.
The Italian, who was previously Ferrari's Driver Simulator Team Leader, possesses vast experience in the rapidly evolving field of software.
With driver simulators playing an increasingly critical role in F1 car development – both in preparation and during race weekends – Sampo's knowledge will be invaluable to Mercedes.
It's important to note that while both Resta and Sampo have signed with Mercedes, typical ‘gardening leave’ contractual obligations prevent them from joining the Brackley squad until 2025.
Mercedes hirings come amidst a period of strategic reshuffling for the German outfit which has struggled in F1 since the introduction of the sport’s ground-effect regulations in 2022, with the team winning just a single race in the past two seasons.
As it fights to regain its footing at the top of the grid against Red Bull, areas of improvement have been identified and subsequent head hunting ensued with the overall aim of strengthening the team’s long-term foundation.
Interestingly, the move comes as Ferrari appears to be targeting some of Mercedes' own talent.
The Scuderia has already secured Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season, and rumors also suggest they are looking to poach Mercedes' driver development director, Jerome D'Ambrosio, to head their young driver program.
This tit-for-tat recruitment strategy underscores the fierce competition between F1’s giants, with teams vying for every competitive advantage they can get their hands on.
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