Mercedes is the latest victim in Ferrari's effort to strengthen its technical team. Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, the red brand has added another face to its team of engineers. Earlier, Ferrari had poached Carlos Sanchez Martinez, who officially announced his departure from Aston Martin after 8 years with the Silverstone squad. He joined the team as a Chassis Stress Engineering Specialist.
Now, Scuderia Ferrari has secured Luciano Nicomede as their new Senior Chassis Composite Designer and it's safe to say Toto Wolff might not to be too pleased with the news. Nicomede was an integral part of the Mercedes team since 2020.
Luciano Nicomede announces he is joining Ferrari
Luciano Nicomede took to ↗︎Linkedin to share the exciting news. "I’m happy to share that I’ve started a new role as a Senior Chassis Composite Designer at Scuderia Ferrari HP," he said.
"Joining Ferrari is a significant milestone in my career and an exciting opportunity to contribute to a team renowned for its engineering excellence, innovation, and pursuit of performance.
"I look forward to the challenges ahead, continuing to grow professionally, and contributing to the team’s success.
"I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited for what lies ahead.
"Here’s to a new beginning!"
We're halfway into the season, and the championship race is only going to get more captivating from here on. Ferrari sits comfortably in second place, behind Mercedes by 72 points in the constructors' standings. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship with a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton.
For Toto Wolff, the move is another reminder that Ferrari's efforts to strengthen its technical department are extending beyond the race track. Losing an experienced figure like Luciano Nicomede adds to the growing list of personnel changes between rival teams and could prove significant over the long term as Ferrari continues to invest in building a stronger technical foundation.
While the immediate impact may not be visible this season, every key departure from Mercedes is likely to be viewed as an unwelcome development for Wolff as the battle between the two teams intensifies both on and off the circuit.
