Laurent Mekies has been involved in the world of Formula 1 since 2001, working with different teams such as Arrows, Toro Rosso, and Ferrari.
In the upcoming 2024 Formula 1 season, Laurent Mekies will be seen on the pit wall as the team principal of the newly named Visa CashApp RB team. Mekies has a long history in F1, having worked with teams like Arrows, Toro Rosso, Ferrari, and now RB. He also had a stint with the FIA alongside Charlie Whiting.
Taking over from Franz Tost at the end of 2023, Mekies will share leadership responsibilities with former FIA F1 executive director Peter Bayer, who is now the CEO of RB. Mekies expressed his gratitude for Franz’s work and mentioned that he and Peter will rely on Franz’s guidance in the future. He is honored to take on the role of team principal and return to the team where he started his career.
Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Scuderia AlphaTauri, is a well-known figure in the world of Formula 1. Born in Tours, France in 1977, Mekies completed his mechanical engineering studies at the ESTACA School in Paris. He also spent a year at Loughborough University in the UK, where he obtained a master’s degree and got involved in racing.
Mekies began his career in Formula 3 with the team Asiatech before moving on to Arrows in the F1 paddock. He played a crucial role in Minardi as a race engineer before the team was acquired by Red Bull and transformed into Toro Rosso. During the transition, Mekies became the chief engineer, overseeing all trackside operations and managing the development of the car.
One of the highlights of Mekies’ career was witnessing Sebastian Vettel’s victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix while working with Toro Rosso. Vettel’s pole position and race win made it a memorable weekend in F1 history. Throughout his time at Toro Rosso, Mekies worked with various drivers, including Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed, Sebastien Bourdais, Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi, Jean-Eric Vergne, and Daniel Ricciardo.
In 2014, at the start of the F1 turbo-hybrid era, Mekies joined the FIA as their safety director. He was responsible for safety and medical matters across all FIA championships, including Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and the World Endurance Championship. He later became the deputy race director, working closely with Charlie Whiting.
Controversy arose when Ferrari appointed Mekies to join their technical team in 2018, as it raised concerns about the recruitment of FIA personnel by teams. Despite the criticism, Mekies remained dedicated to Ferrari and played a key role as their deputy team principal and racing director from 2021 onwards.
After leaving Ferrari in 2023, Mekies returned to the Red Bull family as the team principal of their sister team, RB. The team underwent significant changes, with many members relocating from Faenza to the UK. In January 2024, Tim Goss, Alan Permane, and Guillaume Cattelani joined the team, bringing their expertise and skills to enhance the team’s performance.
Mekies is confident that these appointments will elevate the team to new heights in F1. He acknowledges the team’s current strengths and the need for continuous improvement to meet the highest technical standards in both the factory and on the track.
According to a source, total-motorsport.com
2024 ©
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In conclusion, the year 2024 witnessed a remarkable event in the world of sports. It was a moment that will be etched in the memories of fans and athletes alike. The event showcased the best of what sports has to offer and left a lasting legacy for future generations.
