Frederic Vasseur and Co’s Failed Attempt to Poach Key Engineer From Christian Horner Involved Toto Wolff’s Team Member

Red Bull’s Team bucket over the last couple of years has looked more like a Pasta strainer. Rather than being able to keep hold of the employees, they’re slipping away from the team. Dan Fallows is one of the major poachers made by Aston Martin. And now the rumors of Max Verstappen and Adrian Newey leaving. Obviously, it’s not a shock. The way Red Bull has dominated, everyone would want their engineers. But one such attempt of poaching by Frederic Vasseur recently failed despite using the help of a Mercedes member. 

Yes, you’re right in thinking who that Mercedes member is. It’s Loic Serra, Mercedes Performance Director, who will be joining Ferrari for the 2025 season. Loic Serra is also believed to be a major factor in why Lewis Hamilton decided to make the switch from Mercedes and join the Scuderia. And now, reports suggest that Loic Serra also tried to convince a Red Bull member to join Ferrari. 

We’re talking about Loic Serra’s good friend Pierre Wache, the French engineer who works as Technical Director for Red Bull. Serra and Wache have had a long relationship since the start of their motorsports career. Both of them worked together for Michelin in the 2000s and once the manufacturer opted out of sport, they joined BMW Sauber. It was in the early 2010s that the path of the duo separated with one moving to Mercedes and the other one to Red Bull. 

However, Lioc Serra tried to get them back together once again at Ferrari. Unfortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful. According to funoanalisitecnica.com, “Serra tried to act as an intermediary to convince his transalpine friend to follow him in the in Ferrari adventure. However, the Red Bull coach is thinking about other plans.” It is believed that with the new contract renewal, Horner wants to enhance Wache’s role within the team. 

Not that Wache already doesn’t have an important role, but the upcoming 2026 regulations will make his role even more crucial with a load more responsibility on him. But what about Adrian Newey? Where is he going?

Adrian Newey to Stay at Red Bull despite offers from Frederic Vasseur and Co.

It’s been rumored for a while that Ferrari are hands on deck in trying to poach Adrian Newey away from Red Bull. Amid this, Lawrence Stroll is also believed to have made a huge offer to Newey. But many pundits including Joe Saward suggest that Adrian Newey will not go anywhere and will stay at Red Bull for the foreseeable future. His involvement in their supercar also talks about commitment to the team.

Joe Saward, talking about Adrian Newey’s involvement in Red Bull’s next supercar, said, “All those who are rumoring about Newey leaving Red Bull should perhaps note that he is heavily involved in plans to build the next Red Bull supercar, which will have more F1-related technologies, but will cost a little less than the RB17 and will have a bigger production run”

Do you think Ferrari will develop a better car than Red Bull and dominate the upcoming regulations? If yes, the. Should Pierre Wache join Ferrari?