Ferrari only have themselves to blame as ex-engine chief now powers Mercedes dominance

Mercedes has dominated the 2026 Formula 1 season by winning eight of the opening ten Grands Prix, largely due to a powerful engine overseen by former Ferrari engineer Lorenzo Sassi. Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have frequently pointed out their car's power deficit compared to Mercedes and Red Bull. Sassi, who spent 19 years at Ferrari, left in 2017 following internal friction and now serves as engineering director at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.

According to Italian journalist Leo Turrini, Ferrari has consistently leaked key engineering talent to Mercedes over recent years. Mercedes' competitive car, driven by Kimi Antonelli, also features input from former Ferrari personnel Giacomo Tortora and Riccardo Musconi. The article argues that Ferrari must retain top Italian engineers if the team hopes to end its 19-year championship drought dating back to 2007.