Incoming AlphaTauri Team Principal, Laurent Mekies, believes the team have the "ingredients for success" as they look to improve their fortunes after a disappointing start to the 2023 season. The squad have scored just one point in 2023, with both Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries finding the opening three races challenging. Mekies will join the team at a later date from Ferrari, where he spent five years and worked his way up to the role of Racing Director and Head of Track Area. He will replace long-time Team Principal Franz Tost, who will depart from his job at the end of the season as part of a wider management shakeup that sees former FIA executive Peter Bayer also joining the team. Mekies will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the outfit, including Technical, Manufacturing, Support Function and Race Team operations. “Firstly, I'd like to pay tribute to Franz for the great job he has done over almost two decades in charge at Faenza. I wish him well for the future and I know that both Peter and I will rely on his input and advice in times to come," said Mekies. "Looking forward, I am honoured to take on the role of Team Principal and to return to the team where I spent a large portion of my early career. Scuderia AlphaTauri has all of the ingredients necessary for greater success in the future and in tandem with Peter I’m looking forward to making that happen.” This was echoed by Bayer, who will oversee the strategic direction of the team at its facilities in Faenza and in the UK. "Scuderia AlphaTauri has a fantastic team of people and great infrastructure in Faenza and in the UK," he said. "I am very much looking forward to building on those key elements to increase performance, on an off track, and to bring the team even more success in the coming years.”
Tost: Mekies and Bayer will bring team to the next level
The 2023 season will be Tost's 18th and final with the team, after taking on the role as Team Principal when it was established in 2006. Since then he has overseen their two victories at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix and 2020 Italian Grand Prix, and fostered top talents including Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel, Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen. From 2024 he will take up a consultancy role within the squad, as he helps support his successors who he believes will take the team "to the next level" in the future. “First of all, I would like to thank Dietrich Mateschitz, who gave me the incredible opportunity to be Team Principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the past 18 years," said Tost. "It has been a true privilege to lead the team for such a long period and a great pleasure to work with so many motivated and skilled people, who share my passion for Formula 1. "[At] 67 years old it is time to hand over and with Peter as new CEO and Laurent as Team Principal, we found two very professional people, who will bring the team to the next level. I want to thank everyone for the good cooperation."
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