As reported in recent days, negotiations have been ongoing for some time between Red Bull and Scuderia Ferrari regarding the possible transfer of personnel: Laurent Mekies has been called to take on the role of team principal at Alpha Tauri, while two important figures from Milton Keynes, Enrico Balbo and Pierre Wache, seemed to be heading to Maranello. However, the issue is proving more complicated than expected: the sporting director of the Prancing Horse, in fact, does not yet have a precise arrival date in Faenza, as it must be decided through a series of discussions, as Franz Tost confirmed for Autosport.
“First, Laurent and Vasseur have to talk. Then it will be the turn of Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, who will speak to Ferrari CEO to find a solution,” said the current team principal of Alpha Tauri. The reason for this lengthy negotiation comes from Maranello: Fred Vasseur, in fact, does not want to completely block Mekies’ transfer, but he does not want to accommodate the move as easily as his rivals would like.
The only key to resolution would be a compromise for both parties. The Prancing Horse, in fact, is searching for personnel from other teams, particularly from Red Bull. However, these engineers cannot arrive at Ferrari in the short term due to the gardening period. And this is where the Frenchman comes into play: Ferrari would easily release Laurent Mekies if Red Bull agreed to release its men early.
And what does Red Bull say?
On the other side of the Channel, Red Bull is experiencing a difficult period with Alpha Tauri, a team that is now at the bottom of the standings. The synergy with the parent company has failed because the Faenza team wanted to maintain its independence, but the car is not performing and is burning too much money: the 75 million of Formula One are less than half of the necessary budget, and the sponsors do not cover the rest, let alone the income from the fashion line. The leaders were in crisis and did not know how to manage the situation. They would not have been able to sell the former Toro Rosso, and the Milton Keynes team needs its younger sister for revenue: the Faenza team is a customer of the wind tunnel, engines, and a home for engineers and drivers.
However, the situation will change from 2024. The new CEO of Red Bull has taken the helm, and the clock is ticking. As German magazine AMuS Auto Motor und Sport underlines, the solution is a new management with stronger ties to Milton Keynes: Franz Tost will leave, and the role of CEO will be taken by Peter Bayer. Who will become team principal? Here comes a simple article in the Gazzetta dello Sport that says Laurent Mekies wanted to leave the team, and hence the agreement.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
The issue now is that it is unknown when the new team boss could start, and in Baku, Ferrari was blamed for keeping the Frenchman too long. But this is only a half-truth: Alpha Tauri, and thus Red Bull, need Laurent Mekies, but they do not want to give up Enrico Balbo. Assuming he will arrive, because as the German publication AMuS asserts, “the news is obviously fiction rather than truth.” And so, obviously, giving up an engineer has become a political struggle.
On the other hand, Formula 1 journalist and expert Giuliano Duchessa confirmed that the Ferrari top management will personally discuss the terms and conditions of Laurent Mekies’ contract termination and the signing of the Red Bull engineers.
“I can confirm that Mekies position will be discuss in Maranello after Miami GP. So Laurent is expected to will be at the wall as usual. Vigna and Vasseur will talk with Red Bull management to find an agreement on staff entries and exits. After Miami, a final decision can be made at any time, the names are not known but it is clear that figures are expected in Maranello in the exchange” – Giuliano Duchessa posted on Twitter.
Leave a Reply