Riccardo Corte leaves Ferrari for V8 Supercars
A significant shift has emerged in Formula One’s technical ranks as Riccardo Corte departs Ferrari after more than a decade to take up a position with Grove Racing in Australia’s V8 Supercars series, reports BritPanorama.
The Italian engineer, who served as Lewis Hamilton’s performance specialist during the British driver’s challenging inaugural Ferrari campaign, will assume race engineering duties for newcomer Kai Allen when the 2026 season commences.
This surprising career pivot marks the end of Corte’s 11-season tenure at Maranello, where he fulfilled various technical positions, including driver development responsibilities for Charles Leclerc and performance engineering duties for Carlos Sainz.
His transition to the Australian touring car championship represents an unusual trajectory for a Formula One engineer of his calibre and experience, particularly at a time when Hamilton could also be leaving Ferrari as early as next year.
Upon confirming his appointment, Corte expressed enthusiasm about the transition. “I’m really proud to be joining Grove Racing at such an exciting time for the team,” he stated. “The progress they’ve made in recent seasons is impressive, and the Bathurst 1000 win shows what’s possible with the right people and mindset.”
Stephen Grove, the team’s proprietor, welcomed the appointment as a significant advancement. “Riccardo’s appointment represents another major step forward for Grove Racing,” he remarked. “His 11 years of experience at Ferrari F1 and his work as Lewis Hamilton’s performance engineer earlier this year bring incredible depth and understanding to our program.”
Grove Racing has transformed significantly since current management assumed control in 2021, securing a last-lap victory at this year’s prestigious Bathurst 1000 and achieving second place in the Teams’ Championship, finishing behind Triple Eight Race Engineering led by Broc Feeney.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Ferrari tenure has proved challenging, with the veteran driver yet to secure a podium position across 20 races for the Italian team. Currently sitting 64 points behind teammate Leclerc, who claimed his seventh podium of 2025 at the recent Mexican Grand Prix, Hamilton addressed his difficulties, stating, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
As Corte embarks on this new chapter, it underscores the unpredictable nature of motorsport careers, where diverse paths often lead to unexpected opportunities, reflecting the relentless pursuit of progress within the racing world.
