Full Breakdown
Grove Racing Secures Ferrari Engineer Riccardo Corte for 2026 Supercars Season
11/3/2025, 6:00:31 AM
Major Personnel Changes at Grove Racing
Grove Racing has announced the signing of Riccardo Corte, a former Ferrari Formula 1 engineer, to serve as the race engineer for driver Kai Allen in the 2026 Supercars season. Corte, who previously worked as Lewis Hamilton's performance engineer during the first half of the 2025 F1 season, brings over a decade of experience from Scuderia Ferrari, where he held various roles in vehicle dynamics and simulation. This strategic move follows the confirmation of team principal David Cauchi's departure, marking a significant shift in the team's engineering structure.
Background on Riccardo Corte
Riccardo Corte joined Ferrari's Formula 1 program in the early 2010s and progressed through the ranks to become part of the trackside engineering group. He contributed to race-day strategies and car development during the tenures of notable drivers such as Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz. His recent role as Hamilton's performance engineer involved preparing car setups and executing race strategies at the highest level of motorsport.
Alistair McVean Promoted to Head of Performance
In conjunction with Corte's appointment, Alistair McVean has been promoted to the newly created position of head of performance. McVean, who has been with Grove Racing since its inception, will focus on enhancing the engineering capabilities of the team, refining tools and processes to maximize performance. Team owner Stephen Grove emphasized that McVean's promotion recognizes his leadership and contributions to the team's progress, particularly following their recent Bathurst 1000 victory.
Official Statements & Responses
Stephen Grove stated, “Riccardo’s appointment represents another major step forward for Grove Racing. 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.” Corte expressed enthusiasm about joining the team, noting, “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.”
Criticism & Opposition
While the changes have been largely welcomed, some critics question the timing of Cauchi's departure, suggesting that stability is crucial for a team aiming to build on its recent successes. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of leadership changes on team dynamics and performance continuity.
What's Next for Grove Racing
As Grove Racing prepares for the 2026 season, the team aims to leverage Corte's extensive experience to enhance its competitive edge in the Supercars Championship. The new engineering structure is designed to foster innovation and maintain high performance standards, positioning the team favorably for future challenges.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m really proud to be joining Grove Racing at such an exciting time for the team.” — Riccardo Corte, Race Engineer
- “ As for McVean’s promotion, Grove said: “Alistair’s influence has been central to our progress.” — Stephen Grove, Team Owner
- “This role is a key part of building a sustainable, high-performance foundation for the future.” — Alistair McVean, Head of Performance
- “The past four years with Grove Racing have been some of the most rewarding of my career,” — David Cauchi, Former Team Principal
