Ferrari’s sporting director, Laurent Mekies, has announced that he will be leaving the team to become the team principal of Toro Rosso in 2024. This announcement has raised questions about the impact of his departure on Ferrari’s future plans.
No Immediate Impact on Ferrari
Despite the loss of a key lieutenant, team principal Frederic Vasseur remains optimistic about Ferrari’s future. He maintains that Ferrari is a big organization and not about individuals. Although Vasseur sees Mekies as a key lieutenant in his efforts to rebuild Ferrari, he acknowledges that plans will have to change as Mekies moves on.
Long-Term Contract
Mekies will remain in his current role for the foreseeable future and won’t make the move until 2024. Vasseur confirms that there’s no decision yet on how long Mekies will remain on frontline duty with Ferrari. However, Vasseur is happy to see Mekies get a chance to join the exclusive club of team principals. Ferrari and Mekies have a long-term contract, and the two parties will have to discuss the details and timing of his departure.
Wide Understanding of the Business
Mekies worked for the FIA as safety director and deputy race director, giving him a complete overview of all aspects of the team. Vasseur believes he has a very wide understanding of the business, coming from race engineer to the FIA. Therefore, he thinks Mekies will do a good job as Toro Rosso’s team principal.
Building a Winning Team
Vasseur is confident that Ferrari will continue to build a winning team. He believes that individuals are important, but the group is more critical. Ferrari is hiring key people, but they haven’t announced it to the world yet. They are in a long process, and it’s taking time, but they are putting something in place.
In conclusion, while Mekies’ departure will undoubtedly affect Ferrari, Vasseur and the team remain optimistic about the future. They are focused on building a strong team and remain dedicated to making Ferrari a winning machine once more.
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