The retirement at the end of this season of AlphaTauri principal Franz Tost led the team to announce its future management line-up. Peter Bayer will become the new CEO later in the year and Laurent Mekies the new principal next year. Bayer left the FIA in 2022 after disagreement with president Mohammed ben Sulayem. Mekies (who also served at the FIA in the past) has been recruited from Ferrari where he is sporting director. For Mekies, 46, it’s a return to the team where he last served as chief engineer in 2014.
Rumours in the Italian media that Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Waché and its chief of aero Enrico Balbo had been recruited by Ferrariwere dismissed at the Azerbaijan GP by team boss Christian Horner. “Individuals that have been mentioned in connection with Ferrari came to see me last week and mentioned their disbelief in some of these rumours,” said Horner. “It’s F1. That will inevitably happen.” At the same time it was announced that chief technical officer Adrian Newey has extended his contract “for the long term”.
James Allison’s return as Mercedes F1 technical director, having served as chief technical officer for two years, comes in the wake of the team’s disappointing start to the season. The role will now be taken by the former technical director Mike Elliott. The job swap was reportedly initiated by Elliott. “Mike’s assessment was – and the introspection is admirable – that with James we have a gladiator on the field and the troops are going to go through the fire for him,” said Toto Wolff.
As part of the Mercedes technical restructure, chief designer John Owen’s role has been redefined with a greater focus on the car rather than compliance to budget cap constraints. This will now be covered by the engineering director role which will be filled by Owen’s former deputy Giacomo Tortora.
