Written by Hugh W
Credit: Motorsport.com
In a surprising turn of events, Haas F1 Team has announced the departure of its technical director, Simone Resta. The Italian engineer, who had a long-standing association with Ferrari, joined Haas in 2021 as part of an ongoing collaboration between the Italian manufacturer and the American-owned F1 team.
Resta's journey in Formula 1 includes a stint as Ferrari's chief designer from 2014 to 2018, followed by a brief role as Alfa Romeo's technical director. After rejoining Ferrari in 2019 to oversee chassis development, he transitioned to Haas F1 in pursuit of stronger technical ties between the two teams.
Despite the collaborative efforts and Ferrari's commitment to establishing a technical hub near its Fiorano test track, Haas faced challenges in delivering the expected performance during the ground effect era. The team's struggles with race pace and tire issues led to a disappointing 10th-place finish in the constructors' championship last season.
Haas had implemented a change in design philosophy, moving away from the in-wash sidepod concept pioneered by Ferrari to adopt the Red Bull downwash idea. However, this strategic shift failed to produce the desired results, and the team's major upgrade at the United States GP fell short of expectations.
As the new season approaches, sources indicate that the loan agreement between Ferrari and Haas regarding Simone Resta has prompted a change in plans. The 53-year-old engineer is stepping away from Haas, leaving uncertainty about his future with Ferrari.
While Ferrari is yet to confirm the plans for Resta, speculations suggest that he might be reintegrated into the F1 organisation as part of a restructuring initiative led by team principal Fred Vasseur. Additionally, there are rumors linking Resta to a potential role at the Sauber squad, which is gearing up for Audi's entry into Formula 1 in 2026. Resta had previously worked under the Alfa Romeo banner at Sauber.
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