Ferrari reveals Laurent Mekies’ final race with the Italian team before moving to AlphaTauri as team principal

Laurent Mekies is leaving Ferrari after spending four and half years with the team.

Ferrari reveals Laurent Mekies’ final race with the Italian team before moving to AlphaTauri as team principal

Laurent Mekies (Credits: Motorsport)

The Ferrari F1 team is having a mixed bag of a 2023 F1 season, and amidst the SF-23’s up-and-down performances, the outfit has revealed that the upcoming Belgian GP will be Laurent Mekies‘s last race with the team. Mekies has been with Ferrari for several years and has held important roles.

Laurent Mekies has been a vital cog in the success that the Maranello-based team has amassed since he joined the team. He is a well-respected French engineer and will soon lead AlphaTauri’s charge at the pinnacle of motor racing. Their current Team Principal, Franz Tost, leaves at the end of the ongoing campaign.

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Ferrari is grateful to Mekies for the good work he has done for the team and via an official statement, has wrote, “Laurent Mekies’s time at Ferrari comes to an end this week. The racing director will not be in Belgium and he leaves Maranello after four and a half seasons, during which time the team took seven wins. The entire team thanks him for his great contribution during those years.”

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“As from the Belgian Grand Prix, part of Laurent’s duty on the pit wall will be carried out by Diego Loverno, who takes on the role of Sporting Director. He will be responsible for all sporting matters, as well as liaising with the FIA. Loverno is a veteran member of the Scuderia having worked in Maranello for the past 23 years,” the statement added.

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Ferrari has got a tough task on its hands in 2023

Ferrari (Credits: Sky Sports)
Ferrari (Credits: Sky Sports)

While the departure of Laurent Mekies is a heavy blow for the Ferrari F1 team, it has got a bigger fish to fry during the ongoing season, and can’t afford to dwell too much on the French engineer’s departure. The outfit is currently in an intense battle with Aston Martin, Mercedes, and even McLaren for second place in the Constructors Championship.

As things stand, the Fred Vasseur-led team has so far managed 167 points in the standings and is currently in the fourth position. Moreover, with McLaren’s recent upturn in form, Charles Leclerc and Co. could come under threat from McLaren if they keep performing the way they have in the last two races.

The Ferrari Formula 1 team has got its back against the wall at the moment. Still, considering that they have got two prolific drivers in its garage, the Tifosi are going to expect a strong comeback from the team, especially after the summer break. The upcoming Belgia GP is also going to be important for the team.

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