Mercedes has made a significant move in their quest to regain top form in Formula 1 by hiring Simone Resta, a former Ferrari designer, as their new strategic development director.
This decision is a crucial part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at propelling the team back to the forefront of competitiveness.
Resta, who is 53 years old, brings a wealth of experience to the team, having collaborated with Mercedes’ technical director James Allison during their time together at Ferrari between 2013 and 2016.
Resta is slated to join Mercedes, an eight-time constructors’ champions, at an unspecified date in 2025, signaling a long-term commitment to the team’s future success.
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In a parallel move, Enrico Sampo is set to leave Ferrari as well to take on the role of head of performance software applications with Mercedes.
The team has also filled the vacancy left by Loic Serra, who moved to Ferrari last year, by promoting David Nelson internally to the position of performance director.
During his tenure as Ferrari’s chief designer, Resta worked closely with Allison and was instrumental in the development of Ferrari’s 2017 and 2018 cars.
These vehicles were highly competitive, starting the season as the fastest in F1, and spearheaded by Sebastian Vettel, they led the championship for a considerable portion of both seasons.
However, the promise of these campaigns ultimately unraveled due to reliability issues and errors from the team and Vettel.
Following his impactful stint with Ferrari, Resta transitioned to Sauber in May 2018, before returning to Ferrari in August 2019.
He later joined the Ferrari-affiliated Haas team in 2021, where he remained until the departure of team principal Guenther Steiner last winter.
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These strategic hires come at a time when Mercedes is grappling with the challenges posed by the technical regulations introduced in 2022, which have seen Red Bull dominate the competition.
The team, which enjoyed a historic run of eight consecutive constructors’ titles from 2014 to 2021, is looking to reassert its dominance with an eye on the upcoming technical regulation changes set for 2026.
These changes will include significant revisions to power-units and aerodynamic rules, aiming to enhance competitiveness and sustainability in the sport.