Ferrari F1 racing director Laurent Mekies also seeking an exit amid other major figures’ departures – Report

Amid departures from other major Ferrari figures like David Sanchez, racing director Laurent Mekies may also be on the way out - and he's not the only one.

Ferrari F1 racing director Laurent Mekies also seeking an exit amid other major figures’ departures – Report

Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies

Ferrari had a disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix. Apart from Charles Leclerc’s rather late retirement due to an engine issue, the race pace was incredibly disappointing. Leclerc’s estimate was that they were almost a second behind Red Bull. And even behind Aston Martin. Late on during the race, Fernando Alonso overtook Carlos Sainz on his way to the 99th podium finish of his career.

But it’s not just on-track results that are worrying. If a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport is to be believed, then Leclerc is “restless”. He sought out a meeting with Ferrari’s President, John Elkann, to discuss the team’s current situation. The prospect of not competing for the title in 2023, is “unacceptable” for the Monegasque. He wanted to share his views with Elkann, and also seek “reassurances”.

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Unfortunately, it’s not just the drivers’ side that they have to worry about. The current mood at Ferrari is rather tense – understandably, as they have not won a title for almost 15 years. And major figures are leaving. David Sanchez, head of vehicle concept, resigned recently, and will likely join McLaren in the future. Jonathan Giacobazzi and Gino Rosato have also left the Formula 1 team. And a report from Corriere della Sera says that the Scuderia’s racing director, Laurent Mekies, also tried to leave.

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Read More: “Restless” Charles Leclerc seeks out a meeting with Ferrari President – Report

Not just Mekies – Ferrari F1’s chassis head Enrico Cardile’s future is also uncertain

Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies (L) | Head of Chassis Area Enrico Cardile (R)
Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies (L) | Head of Chassis Area Enrico Cardile (R)

Laurent Mekies is Ferrari F1’s Racing Director and Assistant Team Principal. However, his “powers” are now more restricted, compared to last season. The report from Corriere states that the Frenchman “would have reached an agreement” to join Formula One Management, alongside Stefano Domenicali. However, the move was ‘vetoed’ by Frederic Vasseur. The situation is now ‘deadlocked’. Domenicali was previously the sporting director, and later, team principal of Ferrari.

After his exit from Ferrari in 2014, he became head of FIA’s single-seater commission. Now, he’s CEO of Formula One Group. Mekies himself had worked alongside Domenicali at the FIA, first as safety director (from 2014) and then deputy racing director (2017-18), after which he joined Ferrari. But he’s not the only major figure whose future is rather uncertain. Enrico Cardile, head of Ferrari’s chassis area, whose contract will expire next year, could also be heading for the exit door. But someone like Simone Resta, currently Haas’ technical director, may return.

Apparently, there are even a few problems between Frederic Vasseur and Ferrari’s CEO, Benedetto Vigna. The Frenchman chose to fly to the Bahrain tests together with his friend, Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff. This did not go down well at Maranello. But there’s another thing – when he proposed bringing a new sponsor to Ferrari, he was stopped in his tracks. Apart from this, there are other problems, such as the Charles Leclerc equation. Vasseur has a tough job on his hands.

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