Experience, Italian roots, and passion for the Prancing Horse: let’s get to know Enrico Gualtieri, the man who—according to today’s reports—will have “full powers over Ferrari’s new 2026 Power Unit.”
The news coming from Maranello, reported by our colleagues at AutoRacer, is clear: with Wolf Zimmermann leaving Ferrari at the end of the development phase of the 2026 Power Unit, full responsibility will pass into the hands of Enrico Gualtieri.
So, who is this engineer from Modena, tasked with leading one of the most delicate and crucial projects in Ferrari’s recent history?
Who is Enrico Gualtieri: his career
Born in 1975 in Modena, Enrico Gualtieri has built his entire professional career under the wing of the Prancing Horse. After graduating in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in 2000, he joined Ferrari to work on his thesis project and was then hired as a Simulation Specialist.
From there, his steady rise within the Scuderia began. In 2003 he became Engine Fluid Dynamic Simulation Specialist, focusing on fluid dynamics and engine combustion.
By 2008, he was involved directly in engine design, and in 2010 he became Head of Engine Reliability, facing one of the toughest challenges: ensuring the reliability of Ferrari’s first hybrid Power Unit introduced in 2014.
In July 2014, Gualtieri was promoted to Head of Engine Design and Development, a role he held until 2017, when he was given overall responsibility for the PU project as Head of PU Project Management. Two years later, in 2019, he became Head of Power Unit Area, and since 2023 he has officially been Technical Director of the Power Unit, the top figure in charge of the entire engine department.
Away from Formula 1, Gualtieri remains deeply connected to his hometown. A passionate football fan, he has always declared his love for Modena FC, his favorite team. In his free time, “he enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as hiking in the mountains”.
With Zimmermann stepping aside, Gualtieri will personally oversee the most important challenge of all: the new Power Units from 2027 onwards, around which Ferrari will build its title ambitions for the upcoming technical era. His experience, continuity, and deep roots in Maranello make him the perfect figure to lead this new chapter.
