Author: Barkha Roy
Ferrari has officially announced that Laurent Mekies will not be present in the paddock during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, as the Frenchman is due to leave the team at the end of this week. Originally scheduled to leave at the end of the season, Mekies’ departure comes ahead of schedule due to his appointment as AlphaTauri’s future team boss, succeeding Franz Tost.
After an impressive four and a half seasons as Sporting Director of Scuderia Ferrari, Mekies is stepping down. During his tenure, Ferrari achieved remarkable success, securing seven victories. The team expressed their gratitude for their significant contributions during their time with Cavalo Empinado.
As part of a strategic restructuring at Ferrari, Diego Ioverno has been promoted to the position of Sports Director. In this new role, Ioverno will take responsibility for all sporting matters and will be the point of contact with the FIA. With an extensive 23-year history at the Maranello-based team, Ioverno is a seasoned veteran at Scuderia Ferrari. He will work closely with colleagues Matteo Togninalli, head of track engineering, and Ravin Jain, race strategist, who will report directly to team boss Fred Vasseur.
Currently fourth in the constructors’ championship, Ferrari is determined to improve its performance in the remaining races of the season. With two podiums already, thanks to Charles Leclerc’s excellent performance, the team is eager to continue fighting for success in the competitive world of Formula 1.
The recent announcement marks a significant change in Ferrari’s management structure, which began at the start of the year with the appointment of Fred Vasseur as team boss, replacing Mattia Binotto.
Laurent Mekies’ early departure comes just before the summer break, after negotiations between him and Ferrari regarding his release date. The decision to part ways earlier than expected allows for a smooth transition in leadership roles, ensuring a seamless progression for both Ferrari and AlphaTauri.
As the Belgian Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on Ferrari’s performance under the revised management set-up as they continue to strive for excellence in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.