The engineering market in Formula 1 is experiencing a particularly intense period, with numerous transfers that are redefining the balance between the teams. Among the protagonists of this lively scenario is Ferrari, led by Frederic Vasseur, who seems to be looking for new talent to strengthen its technical team. After the arrival of technical director Loic Serra, coming from Mercedes, Vasseur has apparently set his sights on Renault's engine manufacturers: Luca De Meo, CEO of the Renault group, confirmed this interest in a recent interview.
Vasseur on the hunt for Renault talent
During the interview given to L'Equipe, De Meo revealed that Frederic Vasseur has contacted Renault to explore the possibility of bringing some of the French manufacturer’s technicians to Maranello. “Fred Vasseur called us to ask if he could take some of our technicians and if we could spare them the gardening leave period,” said De Meo. The “gardening leave” is the mandatory period of inactivity that Formula 1 engineers must respect before they can start working for a new team.
The openness shown by De Meo is not surprising, considering the recent decision by Alpine (the Formula 1 team owned by Renault) to abandon the production of engines to become a Mercedes customer team starting in 2026. A change that has opened the door to the possible departure of specialized technicians, many of whom could be attracted by the idea of contributing to the design of Ferrari's power units.
The End of Renault Engines in F1
2026 will mark a major turning point for Alpine, which will no longer produce engines in-house and will rely on Mercedes power units to compete in Formula 1. The decision, officially communicated by the Renault group, marks the end of an era, leaving the fate of the historic Viry-Châtillon factory, home to the production of Renault power units, up in the air. Although De Meo has guaranteed that there will be no layoffs and that all the technicians involved will be reassigned to other projects, it is clear that many could seize the opportunity to move to other Formula 1 teams, in search of new challenges.
“We have guaranteed that there will be no job losses, but if there are people attracted by the idea of designing an engine for Formula 1 they will have no problem relocating elsewhere,” De Meo added. Ferrari, under Vasseur’s leadership, is moving decisively on the market to strengthen its technical team, aware that the upcoming challenges on the track will require specific and advanced skills in the field of power units.
Vasseur and the links with Renault
Frederic Vasseur's move to focus on Renault technicians is not a coincidence. The Ferrari team principal in fact served as team principal of the French team in the 2016 season, before De Meo arrived at the helm of the group. This experience has allowed him to gain in-depth knowledge of the organization and skills of the Viry-Châtillon engineers, which could facilitate the integration of some of them within the Ferrari team.
Vasseur's goal is clear: to strengthen Maranello's technical organization with figures with great experience in the field of power units. Renault engineers have years of development in Formula 1 behind them, working on engines that have contributed to writing important pages in the history of the top motor racing category. Now, with the end of Renault engine production in F1, those talents could represent a precious resource for Ferrari.
An increasingly competitive engineering market
The engineering market has become a real challenge for Formula 1 teams. In recent months, key transfers have upset the technical balance: Adrian Newey and Enrico Cardile have moved to Aston Martin, Jonathan Wheatley has joined the Audi project, and Rob Marshall has decided to move to McLaren. Ferrari, not wanting to be left behind, has already started to strengthen its staff with the arrival of Loic Serra and is now looking with interest at the talents coming from Renault. All these changes have obviously been made with a view to 2026, with the new technical cycle.
The Maranello team is therefore aware that future challenges will require a very high technical level. The interest in Renault engine manufacturers is not only a strategic move to improve the performance of the Ferrari power unit, but also a way to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult environment. The contribution of expert technicians could make the difference in the pursuit of the world title, which Ferrari has been chasing for a long time.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
