The future team principal of AlphaTauri Formula 1, Laurent Mekies, has stated that his gardening leave from Ferrari has spared him the intensity of a mid-season team change. According to the Frenchman, who will assume the role of TP (Team Principal) for the Faenza-based team from January 1st, this forced break has allowed him to clear his mind and arrive with a clearer overall picture of the situation.
After a disappointing start to the season, Red Bull has chosen to completely revolutionize the AlphaTauri team, which, starting in the coming weeks, will take on a new identity with a name change.
However, several changes are happening to the Faenza-based team, starting with key figures: a few months ago, Peter Bayer was announced as the new CEO, while from January 1st, Laurent Mekies will replace Franz Tost in the role of Team Principal.
The former Sporting Director of Ferrari will remain an employee of Maranello until the end of this month, but, as is customary, they have agreed to a gardening leave period before the start of his new adventure. While Laurent Mekies himself found these months on the sidelines frustrating, on the other hand, he admitted that the break allowed him to organize the new challenge more calmly, without immediately delving into the issues of a new role for him.
Previously, Laurent Mekies had already worked in Faenza as an engineer during the times of Minardi and Toro Rosso, then moving on to the FIA and, finally, Ferrari, where over the years, he held the position of Sporting Director. “At the beginning, when I realized I had to wait all these months, it was a bit frustrating. Because you would want to dive in immediately and think about how to contribute and provide support,” said the Frenchman at the Autosport Awards.
“But the truth is, if you go straight from one job to another, you’ll probably be immediately caught up in the intensity of the schedule, the daily decisions you have to make. So it was a great fortune to be able to take a step back, look at the big picture, have the chance to think about how to do many things. It could be about finding fantastic people.”
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“That’s our sport now. It’s the people, it’s the relationship between people. And that’s exactly what I’m looking forward to getting back to. I’m very, very lucky to come from an incredible family of racers and go to another incredible family of racers. I’m very, very grateful.”
The now former Team Principal Franz Tost declared in Abu Dhabi that he is sure the team he managed for 18 years will be in good hands: “First of all, Peter has been with us since June, and I believe we are working closely together. Now he understands the team much better and has a lot of experience. He knows Formula 1,” explained the Austrian.
“And Laurent Mekies, who still worked with us, knows the team from the past, and I think these two people are absolutely the right ones to take over the team. And I expect them to bring the team to another level because both have a lot of experience. Both know Formula 1, and I am convinced that they will do an excellent job.”
Meanwhile, the new name for AlphaTauri will be unveiled this week when the FIA publishes the official list of F1 drivers and teams for the 2024 season. “It will be up to AlphaTauri to announce the name change they choose. I’m sure they will announce their rebrand for next year at the right time when Franz’s chapter closes. Peter and Laurent Mekies have ambitious plans for the team, which will unfold in the future,” said Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing.
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