Ferrari designer Simone Resta has switched allegiances under the Italian marque, changing over to become the new Technical Director at Sauber.
Resta has been signed as TD at the Alfa Romeo Sauber team. The native Italian has been with Ferrari since 2001, having cut his teeth in Formula 1 with Minardi. Working as senior design staff since 2006, his work produced World Championship winning cars in 2007 & 2008, with several other title challenges. He acted as Chief Designer from 2014.
This move to the Sauber team means he has changed position under the Ferrari umbrella, with Alfa Romeo acting as a different brand for the Fiat Group; an unofficial B-Team for the Scuderia. Resta replaces Jorg Zander, who was dismissed from the team last month.
The Ferrari man joins Sauber from the 1st of July, and will report directly to Frederic Vasseur, team boss of Sauber, rather than to any Fiat or Ferrari personnel: “Simone Resta has the best profile to take on the role of Technical Director. His arrival at Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team marks a significant step ahead of a long term project that aims at strengthening the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team in order to achieve ambitious results.”
This signing, more of a redeployment, suggests a strengthening of the links between the two teams, with Ferrari aiming to generate the same kind of team dynamic that rivals Mercedes enjoy with Force India, and Red Bull with Toro Rosso.
