The Azerbaijan Grand Prix has almost always offered absurd chaos. With a double qualifying session (the Friday one is valid for Sunday’s race) and a Sprint Race (Saturday), it will be a gamble. But the most surreal scene has already been seen, like a reality show: when Laurent Mekies entered the Ferrari hospitality area smiling in his uniform, as if there had never been that press release in which AlphaTauri announced him as their future team principal.
Without an agreement with Ferrari on the transfer timing, Maranello was caught off guard twice. Perhaps by the Frenchman’s negotiations, certainly by the announcement. The result: a key man in the organization (racing director and sports director), with access to sensitive information and future plans, today (unless there are surprises) will sit on the pit wall with an agreement already in hand with a team from the Red Bull family. That is, a team from the arch-rivals. A mess, a poorly managed affair that is also causing embarrassment within Ferrari itself.
A sign of confusion because the desire of the former Mattia Binotto deputy to leave was clear, and he had already discussed a proposal to move to Liberty Media before.
Fred Vasseur’s defense is fragile: “But that was different. This time I wouldn’t have stopped him. It’s a great opportunity for him to become a team principal. Some offers can’t be refused.” “The pillar of the future” – that’s how Frederic Vasseur had defined Laurent Mekies just a month ago – has come crashing down like a sandcastle, and it’s not even known how long he will remain operational “because AlphaTauri was ‘aggressive’ in its communication, and Laurent has a long contract with us. We have to discuss it.”
His tasks will be reassigned among several people “as part of a broad restructuring process.” Fred Vasseur promises a massive hiring campaign, with thirty new members expected by June. “But don’t ask me for names because I won’t say them.” There would be negotiations underway with a top engineer from Red Bull, Enrico Balbo, according to Daniele Sparisci who reports the information for corriere.it. The Italian is the head of aerodynamics, and last year he was on the podium at Imola celebrating with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
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The reconstruction after Mattia Binotto will be long, while the present requires immediate interventions. “The first three races for me were disastrous.” That’s Charles Leclerc comment, and his first song “Aus:23” – “written before the disappointment of Melbourne” – is not enough to console him. Regarding his future beyond 2024, he declares his loyalty to Ferrari: “I want to win here; I have confidence in Fred.” But he seems to want to send two messages. To those who ask if he has had contacts with Mercedes: “No, not yet. Not at the moment. I’m focused on Ferrari.” To those who ask if he wants to continue: “From my part, yes, but we’ll see if my bosses will still want me after 2024.”
Negotiations are still to be opened, and Fred Vasseur is in no hurry: “We’ll do it later; now we have to focus on the car.” The team principal also sends a message to Charles, who aims for the status of the first driver: “All winning teams are built around a single driver: from Schumacher’s Ferrari to Verstappen’s Red Bull.” It may not please Sainz, but it’s music to the Monegasque’s ears. “
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