F1 News: Laurent Mekies Officially Begins Work As AlphaTauri Team Principal
Laurent Mekies, the former Ferrari Sporting Director, is poised to start his tenure as the Team Principal of AlphaTauri, taking over from Franz Tost. This marks a new chapter for Red Bull Racing's sister team, with Mekies bringing a wealth of experience from his time at Ferrari.
Key Takeaways:
- Mekies' Anticipated Leadership: Laurent Mekies is ready to lead AlphaTauri, expressing his enthusiasm: "A new adventure starts now, and it is with a great sense of gratefulness that I go from a very special racing family to another very special racing family."
- Franz Tost's Departure: Franz Tost, who has just stepped down after 18 years, has entered semi-retirement.
- Additional Strategic Changes: Peter Bayer has already joined as Chief Executive Officer alongside Mekies, indicating a strategic shift in AlphaTauri's management.
Laurent Mekies, known for his substantial experience in the Formula 1 world, including roles at Toro Rosso and Minardi before a tenure at Ferrari, brings a fresh perspective and leadership style to AlphaTauri. He previously also held positions at the FIA as Safety Director and Deputy Race Director before joining Ferrari in 2018.
Mekies’ appointment coincided with the hiring of Peter Bayer as the team's new Chief Executive Officer. Bayer's background as a former FIA executive is expected to complement Mekies' experience, providing a robust leadership team for AlphaTauri.
Posting on LinkedIn, Mekies noted starting his new role, stating:
"A new adventure starts now, and it is with a great sense of gratefulness that I go from a very special racing family to another very special racing family. We are embarking into an exciting journey, a new chapter for us to write all together, and I can’t wait to work alongside the talented people in Faenza and in Bicester."
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When the announcement was made last year, Mekies paid tribute to Franz Tost and expressed his honour in taking up the new role:
“Firstly, I’d like to pay tribute to Franz [Tost] for the great job he has done over almost two decades in charge at Faenza. I wish him well for the future and I know that both Peter [Bayer] and I will rely on his input and advice in times to come.
"Looking forward, I am honoured to take on the role of Team Principal and to return to the team where I spent a large portion of my early career. Scuderia AlphaTauri has all of the ingredients necessary for greater success in the future and in tandem with Peter I’m looking forward to making that happen.”
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