The FIA’s former safety director and deputy F1 race Laurent Mekies, currently Scuderia Ferrari’s sporting director, was recently interviewed by the Italian magazine Autosprint. The Italian side’s’s boss admitted that in certain aspects it is easier for a team to work with a driver who was part of the Academy, but at the same time hailed Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel for his contribution during the five years spent alongisde the Maranello team:
Is it easier for a Formula One team to work with a driver who was part of the team’s Academy?
“I think so, yes. It is human nature. It takes time and years to form and maintain relationships. If you know someone and you have a relationship with him even before he arrived in Formula 1, it is an advantage for everyone. If you know someone for a long time, just like in the day to day life, it’s easier to work and form a more intense and solid relationship with a person. A team consists of many different people and being able to know each person and to keep everybody integrated in that group is a huge advantage for the driver, especially in terms of motivation, involvement and feedback. But that doesn’t take anything away from the fact that working with a four-time Formula One world champion like Sebastian Vettel is also extraordinary. Sebastian is a natural leader in his DNA, who is a central person in our project, who is always able to find the right words, calm and motivation. In theory the more time you spend with a driver, you benefit from it. Probably that’s why I am feeling this about Sebastian who has been with us for a long time.” – Scuderia Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies, as reported by Italy’s Autosprint.
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