Scuderia Ferrari is trying to find its way in a rather difficult scenario. The arrival of Frederic Vasseur has destabilized the atmosphere in Maranello, or perhaps it would be better to argue that some discontent has taken shape through the departure of Mattia Binotto.
The workgroup forged by the manager from Lausanne is feeling the impact, to the point that several important figures decide to take different paths.
One of them is Laurent Mekies. The former director of safety at the FIA, as well as deputy race director, joined Ferrari in September 2018. Wanted by the Swiss-born technician, the Frenchman from Tours has held various roles within the historic team. The bond between the two has always seemed very strong, so much so that Laurent, on several occasions, has taken Mattia Binotto’s place as a substitute on the pit wall when the lanky engineer preferred to stay in the Ferrari Racing Department back in Maranello to monitor operations at the factory.
Ferrari: Laurent Mekies’ Brief and Impactful (?) Trajectory in Maranello
The Frenchman obtained his degree in mechanical engineering from the ESTACA school in Paris, and then spent his final year of study at Loughborough University, United Kingdom. At the age of twenty-four, he had his first approach to F1 when he joined the Arrows team in the 2021 season. The following year, he moved to the then Minardi team, serving as a track engineer and staying in Faenza for a long twelve years, becoming the Chief Engineer in 2006 when Giancarlo’s team transformed into Toro Rosso.
His responsibilities are manifold: overseeing car construction, managing the team at the track, and even leading six departments dedicated to different performance areas. In short, an important pillar of the team, on which the Red Bull B team relied heavily during its growth phase within the sport.
Later, in the 2014 Formula 1 season, the Frenchman chose to leave Italy and join the International Federation where, three years later, he became deputy race director behind the unforgettable Charlie Whiting. Having covered a brief overview of his career, how will the father of the Halo be remembered at Ferrari? Sports director, head of track & performance area, racing director, and head of track area, important roles carried out at the Scuderia, where doubts about his merits have certainly not been lacking.
Often harshly criticized, as in the case of the at least questionable defense in the Vettel/Canada incident, relying on the phantom evidence borrowed from former driver and current TV commentator Karun Chandok, his tenure in the Italian team coincided with a period that was certainly not too happy.
This factor has probably contributed to creating an underestimating context regarding his capabilities within the organizational structure of the Prancing Horse. In fact, to this day, no one inside or outside the Ferrari world seems to be tearing their hair out over his departure.
Ferrari: Diego Ioverno as replacement and the Operating Model
Diego Ioverno’s curriculum, the substitute replacement for Laurent Mekies on the pit wall of the red team. He directed the gearbox assembly department during the golden period of the early millennium. Head of car assembly in 2008. Boss of race operations since 2010, during which time he also managed mechanics and engineers. Sports director in the 2015 championship along with the previous responsibilities until 2018, when his responsibilities were absorbed by Jock Clear.
Two years ago, in the 2021 Formula 1 championship, his functions were carried out in the Vehicle Operations department. Under this aspect, one of the goals entrusted to him was to maximize pit stop operations during races, considering the disastrous performance of the Maranello team in this area in the already infamous 2020 F1 campaign. Just a few days ago, he was “promoted” on an interim basis to assume the various delegated roles of the soon-to-be team principal of Alpha Tauri.
Ioverno is an internal resource. Undoubtedly, his experience in Ferrari is extensive, and there shouldn’t be any particular reason why he cannot fulfill the task he has undertaken until the next racing campaign. However, there are important questions that remain. Considering that the Laurent Mekies affair has been circulating freely for several months now, the solution was necessary since currently no technician seems enthusiastic about joining the Prancing Horse.
It remains to be seen, and we will find out in the coming weeks, whether the operational revolution currently underway and strongly desired by Frederic Vasseur will be led primarily by Diego Ioverno himself. The importance of this aspect should not be underestimated because not making use of the next six months towards a much-needed progression would create further harmful delays.
Accepting a “stagnant condition” by relying on old methodologies while waiting for better times would indeed hinder the improvement curve in Ferrari’s management. Will the Italian be the right person to accelerate progress in this delicate field? Taking into account the work context that has been managed in Ferrari so far, will the first measures towards a radical change be entrusted to him?
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