F1 Rumour: This Surprising Character Could Replace Red Bull's Christian Horner

Laurent Mekies' departure from Ferrari to join AlphaTauri as their new team principal from 2024, replacing the retiring Franz Tost, has officially concluded, amidst a backdrop of complex contract issues.

There had even been rumours that Mekies was used as a leverage tool by the Maranello-based squad to attract Red Bull technicians. His last appearance as part of Ferrari was at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with his duties now taken over by Diego Ioverno.

Fulvio Solms of the Corriere dello Sport discussed Mekies' move, explaining:

“The team from Faenza is undergoing a profound phase of metamorphosis.

"It is inevitable that Mekies, by accepting the job, has begun to travel a corridor that could also lead him to the helm of Red Bull, seeing him succeed Christian Horner.

"If successful, in five years Mekies will be fully formed as a team principal.

"In short, Red Bull could give wings to Mekies too."

Solms also shed light on potential obstacles to Mekies' growth at Ferrari, drawing a comparison with Stefano Domenicali.

"Mekies [...] from a political point of view has never had the chance to become head of Ferrari for a very simple reason: he was Binotto's right arm, the latter disliked by the president.

"So it could have continued to grow only as long as he was there.

"[Mekies has] several qualities in common with Stefano Domenicali [which] were noted: same broad vision, thorough knowledge of sporting regulations, great ability to relate to others, as well as to always find the right words to say to the drivers. Great loss and therefore good luck, to him and to Ferrari.”

Ferrari confirmed earlier today that Mekies has left the team with immediate effect before he starts with AlphaTauri at the beginning of 2024.