Leclerc assigned new Ferrari race engineer from Imola

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Ferrari has announced a shift in Charles Leclerc’s technical team from next week’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with long-standing race engineer Xavi Marcos leaving the Monegasque’s crew.

Marcos started working alongside Leclerc after the latter’s arrival at the Scuderia in 2019, and the Italian has since played a key role in the five-time Grand Prix winners’ development.

However, Marcos will be transitioning to a different position within the team and replaced from Imola by Leclerc’s current performance engineer, Bryan Bozzi, a ten-year veteran with Ferrari.

“Scuderia Ferrari HP announces that, as of Monday 13 May, Xavi Marcos will bring his valuable experience gained as a race engineer with the Formula 1 team to the development of other important company programmes,” Ferrari said in a statement published on Thursday.

“Scuderia Ferrari HP announces that Bryan Bozzi, who has worked in the team for ten years, currently as Performance Engineer to Charles Leclerc, will now take on the role of his Race Engineer as from next weekend’s Gran Premio del Made in Italy and dell’Emilia-Romagna at Imola.”

Read also: Ferrari using final filming day to test Imola upgrade package

During their 108 races together, Marcos helped guide Leclerc to his five career wins in Formula 1.

But the duo also experienced its share of heated moments and disagreements, with tense exchanges captured in team radio communications over the years.

"Grazie mille di tutto Xavi," commented Leclerc on social media as he paid tribute to Marcos.

"So many years working together, my first pole, my first win as well as my first year in Ferrari was alongside you and you always got the better out of me by pushing so hard no matter the situation we were in.

"Thank you for everything and good luck for your new adventures in the future."

The change in personnel signifies Ferrari's focus on continuous optimization.

By promoting Bozzi, who already has a strong working relationship with Leclerc, the team aims for a seamless transition and to potentially unlock new levels of performance for the Monegasque driver.

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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.