Key Mercedes-bound figure ends Ferrari tenure

Simone Resta has officially concluded his time at Ferrari following 23 years with the Italian squad.

He will become Mercedes' strategic development director, but it is not yet confirmed when next year he will join the team.

That move was announced in March after Resta left Haas at the start of 2024, having started at the American outfit in 2021 to help strengthen the technical partnership between the team and Ferrari - which provides it with power unit and various other parts.

At Mercedes, Resta will be re-united with James Allison, the Brackley squad's technical director, whom he worked with at Ferrari between 2013-2016. The 53-year-old became the team's chief designer in 2014.

"2001-2024, last day after 23 years of passion at Ferrari," he wrote on professional networking site LinkedIn on Saturday 1 June. "Unique professional experience, having been lucky enough to meet exceptional talents.

"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who believed in me, and to the fans who have never stopped to give their support during all those years. Onwards and upwards."

Resta initially left Ferrari in 2018, joining Alfa Romeo Sauber as technical director. However, he returned to the team just over a year later, in August 2019.

He began his career in F1 in the late 1990s, with Italian minnows Minardi. He worked in research and development for the team from 1998.

Upon moving to Ferrari in 2001, Resta took the role of senior design engineer. In 2006, he assumed the position of head of research and development, before becoming deputy chief design director in 2012.