Surprise Ferrari departures tip of iceberg in latest F1 power play

It has now been a week since news broke that Mattia Binotto had signed two Ferrari engine engineers to join Audi's works attack on the 2026 F1 season.

Wolf Zimmermann and Lars Schmidt's departures had led to a flurry of opinions over the current health of Maranello's technical department ahead of the major rules reset coming in for next season, with it clear that the loss of the duo will not be easy to overcome.

Given the huge opportunities presented by the new power units with the increased electrical power of 350kw, all engine manufacturers are also trying to cover the inevitable unknowns with the new regulations, which will have a very steep learning curve.

But at the same time, the departures of Zimmerman and Schmidt is in opposition to what rumours in the paddock have been suggesting. 

RacingNews365 understands that the work of Zimmerman and Schmidt in the conceptual design of the power unit was completed several months ago, with the head of power units Enrico Gualtieri, already scheduling tests on the dyno for the new engine and transmissions. 

It has been reported that the 2026 power unit has been optimised in terms of its performance at higher internal temperatures, with less heat exchange.

In close synergy with the aerodynamics department, reinforced by the arrival of Franck Sanchez, it is believed that the internal fluid dynamics of the 2026 Ferrari will be particularly innovative, based on a strong boost from the power unit's packaging.

This will be a vital factor in the coming seasons, given the bigger battery and the complex management of the temperatures generated.

The market for engineers moving from team to team is ripe, involving multiple positions across multiple teams.

Mercedes has recently denied that two of its engineers had moved from Brixworth's High Performance Powertrains to Ferrari, but RacingNews365's sources have indicated that some engineers specialising in electrical performance management are leaving Mercedes.

A particularly strong paddock rumour in recent months is that Mercedes is set to enjoy a significant advantage with its 2026 power unit, whilst it was also strategically circulated that Ferrari was well behind its rivals on the project.

This created a strong disincentive for engineers of interest to the Scuderia to move to Maranello, but it is all part of the political game being played, one which has been unfolding for at least a year between the top teams.

It is understood that more surprises with significant technical transfers, not only relating to the power units, but also with aerodynamic and vehicle dynamics staff, potentially involving the top three teams.