The head of Ferrari’s 2026 Power Unit project will leave Maranello once development is complete: his future is set at Audi alongside Schmidt, while Gualtieri takes full control.
According to an exclusive report by AutoRacer.it, the paths of Ferrari and Wolf Zimmermann will part ways at the end of the development of the next-generation engine.
The German engineer, who has been with Ferrari for eleven years and has led the 2026 Power Unit project since March 2023, will depart from Maranello just as the first phase of the program — aligned with the new technical regulations — comes to a close. His future already seems written: a move to Audi, set to make its Formula 1 debut in 2026.
Ferrari, not only Zimmermann: is Schmidt also out?
Zimmermann might not be the only one heading to Ingolstadt. Audi is reportedly eyeing Lars Schmidt, Ferrari’s current Lead Engineer for performance development of the internal combustion side of the PU. If both moves were finalized, it would mark a major loss for the Scuderia.
To ensure stability and safeguard competitiveness ahead of the regulatory revolution, Ferrari has opted to reinforce its internal structure. The sixteen-time world champions have decided to fully integrate the Power Unit project under the leadership of Enrico Gualtieri, a long-standing and highly respected figure in the engine department.
The separation from Zimmermann represents a crucial turning point for Maranello, which must now prove capable of staying on course despite rivals circling. With 2026 drawing ever closer, Audi may already be shaping up as a new and dangerous rival for the Prancing Horse.
