“The power of the team is always more important,” Frederic Vasseur insists Laurent Mekies’ departure is not a big blow for Ferrari

The assistant team principal to Ferrari is set to take over Franz Tost's role at AlphaTauri

Laurent Mekies and Frederic Vasseur via The Mirror

Laurent Mekies is the assistant team principal and Sporting Director of Scuderia Ferrari. He joined Ferrari in 2014 and has played a significant role in the team’s development and success in recent years. Before Ferrari, Mekies worked for the FIA as Safety Director and was responsible for the organization’s safety policies and regulations.

The latest announcement is that he is set to replace Franz Tost as AlphaTauri team principal in 2024. His departure will no doubt be a big blow for Ferrari. When inquired on this, team principal Frederic Vasseur said, “First of all, I think it’s a mega opportunity for Laurent, considering also like this that I have a good relationship with him, and I won’t block Laurent, for sure.”

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He added, “We have a long-term contract with Laurent, and we’ll have to discuss about details. But we had a very open discussion on this, because I know Laurent for 30 years, and I think that it’s very difficult to refuse this kind of proposal for him.” Laurent Mekies is not the first to jump ship from the team based in Maranello this season.

Despite this, Vasseur has insisted, “You know that the power of the team is always more important, and the power of the group, than the individuals. We have to keep this in mind, that the most important is the group – the group is there.” The team boss is intent on keeping morale high despite these departures

Ferrari’s dismal start to the season could be a factor in Laurent Mekies’ departure

The Scuderia are enduring one of their most torrid starts to a season since 2010. They have scored only 62 points in five races this year. Their machinery is also underwhelming, and the performance is in stark contrast to their expectations in pre-season. The team expected to be once again fighting Red Bull at the top but looks to have dropped into the midfield.

The staff and management at Ferrari just underwent restructuring with the departure of former team boss Mattia Binotto. Fred Vasseur has been appointed in place of him, but the team is yet to show results. Jumping ship is becoming a common team at Maranello, with Laurent Mekies following the likes of David Sanchez.

Ferrari sports director Laurent Mekies is planned as the new team boss. Mekies worked at Toro Rosso from 2004 to 2014, including as chief engineer, then switched to the FIA and from there to Ferrari in 2018. Now both parties are arguing when Mekies will be released.
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) May 3, 2023

Charles Leclerc was the title favorite for 2022 after the initial phase of the season. However, poor reliability with the car was a factor that led to his downfall. In an addendum to this, he was also a victim of very poor strategy calls, be it the choice of tires for a stint or the timing of his pit stop. Mekies and Binotto were mainly at fault for these shortcomings.

Vasseur is confident that despite the pair of Mekies and Sanchez leaving Ferrari, it is just two of 1600 and that the power of the group still remains. They want to bring in upgrades and improve as they did at Baku, aiming to bounce back from this poor start. Vasseur has assured that they are recruiting massively and that, step by step, they are building something new.