He speaks, and on the identical time by no means misses the prospect to line up his smartphones on the desk — by no means at relaxation, all the time lighting up with new notifications. As we all know, the lifetime of a workforce principal is neither simple nor with out commitments. And Laurent Mekies, head of the Visa Money App Racing Bulls workforce, is not any exception to that rule. On the Thursday of the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna GP in Imola, between one assembly and one other, he discovered time to provide this author an unique interview for Formula1.it. A pleasing chat with a courteous, calm, and rational determine, throughout which we touched on a number of matters — from the present state of the workforce he has led for a few seasons, to the way forward for Formulation 1, with out forgetting his time at Ferrari or latest developments within the sport.
Laurent, many individuals keep in mind you in your time at Ferrari: are you able to clarify the distinction in stress and roles between VCARB and the Scuderia?
“Truthfully, I believe nothing can evaluate to Ferrari — in a optimistic sense. The Scuderia is a novel entity, not simply because it’s a high workforce and we’re a midfield workforce, if you wish to name it that. However normally. I believe it’s higher to talk of 1 chapter that’s closed and a brand new one which has simply begun. As for stress, that’s all the time current, in each small and massive groups. It relies on the competitiveness of the folks concerned. And on this surroundings, we — I imply all of us — are extraordinarily aggressive.”
You’ve lately bid farewell to Yuki Tsunoda, who’s been promoted to Crimson Bull. Are you proud of the work finished collectively?
“Seeing Tsunoda make the step as much as Crimson Bull, after all of the progress he made with us final season, is one thing that makes us actually blissful and happy with our work. Simply 12 months in the past it appeared like science fiction, and now it’s actuality: we’re happy with what we’ve finished. Alongside chasing most competitiveness, creating drivers for the Crimson Bull household is our precedence. In the event that they wanted drivers and we had nothing to supply, that might be an enormous downside. It’s one of many causes we’re right here. Most likely these swaps price us one thing when it comes to efficiency, it’s true, nevertheless it’s a part of the sport.”
Trying at this time, you’re going by a season with a line-up the place Hadjar is proving to be a serious shock and Lawson is bouncing again after his Crimson Bull rejection. Ideas?
“Talking about Lawson, sure, he took an enormous hit from the Crimson Bull races. Nobody may’ve predicted it, however that’s prior to now now. He’s again with us, getting right into a automobile he didn’t know. We’ve seen him make necessary progress: the expertise everyone knows is coming again. Possibly it hasn’t been so seen, however he’s actually pushing exhausting and doing effectively — which means he feels good with himself and with the workforce. Hadjar is an enormous shock for everybody — besides Helmut Marko (he laughs). I have to say, from the second he began working with us as much as the primary race, he confirmed a rare place to begin, despite the fact that for us the main focus is on development. And we’ve to assist him develop. However the basis is superb, as we noticed in qualifying in Australia. Even off observe, he’s humble, blissful, and a tough employee. Earlier than we transfer on, can I add one thing?”
After all…
“I believe our driver pairing has finished about twenty races in complete — combining Liam and Isack. I invite you to place that information on a chart in comparison with the opposite 9 groups, and also you’ll see the large hole between us and the remaining. Most respect to everybody, however having two rookies means we will’t ask them for a similar issues anticipated from the opposite 18 drivers. Once more, we’re sacrificing one thing when it comes to competitiveness, however I hope it’ll assist us sooner or later.”
Are you able to clarify, then, how this oblique administration of drivers impacts the workforce’s development in the long run?
“It’s by no means a bonus — no level in pretending in any other case. It’s all the time sophisticated to handle these conditions, particularly when you might have two rookies. Nevertheless it’s our DNA, our motive for being, and we’ve to mix that with the aim of combating on the high of the midfield and maybe beating groups greater than us.”
Nonetheless on the subject of drivers: do you play a direct position of their promotion to Crimson Bull, or does Helmut Marko make the choices with out consulting you?
“I’d prefer to be clear: it’ll by no means be our job to decide on Crimson Bull’s drivers. That’s as much as Helmut Marko and Christian Horner. Our position is simply, when mandatory, to offer the mother or father firm with legitimate choices. In 2024 we gave two legitimate choices with Lawson and Tsunoda, and this yr, when requested, we put one other legitimate title on the desk. And we’ll be able to do it once more.”
With reference to Crimson Bull advisors, there’s been discuss a doable arrival of Sebastian Vettel. What do you make of those rumours, particularly given your earlier connection at Ferrari?
“Truthfully, I believe speaking about Helmut Marko slowing down his work is pure science fiction (he laughs). Given the vitality he places into his position, his involvement in long-term selections, and his dedication to driver choice, I don’t imagine something will occur within the quick time period, whatever the rumours and names circulating in latest weeks.”
Let’s look to the long run. What do you consider the 2026 laws, particularly from the standpoint of a workforce that can focus ‘solely’ on constructing the automobile, and never on the facility unit, which would be the predominant problem?
“Permit me a small correction. I wouldn’t communicate of solely aerodynamics: we’ve to construct a whole automobile — designed and produced between Faenza and Milton Keynes. All underneath Visa Money App Racing Bulls, apart from the elements we purchase from Crimson Bull, like gearbox and suspension. We make 80% of the automobile. In 2026, there can be a regulation that requires ranging from a clean sheet — deciding the place to put issues within the automobile, the radiators, equipment. The whole lot. There’s an enormous quantity of conceptual and design work occurring alongside aerodynamic improvement. It is going to be the largest change in latest F1 historical past, and I believe it’ll reshuffle the pecking order. It’s such a deep revolution that it could be actually exhausting to have the identical image as in the present day.”
Let me be direct: are you saying that you just, too, may have a shot on the high?
“I believe that even when we’re all ranging from a clean sheet, we shouldn’t idiot ourselves by saying ‘Okay, we will win’. We should keep centered on workforce development. In latest months we’ve made huge modifications, and we nonetheless have room to develop to be within the struggle proper behind the highest groups — and thoughts you, that might imply beating a minimum of two constructors. However I imagine we will attain that aim not by getting greater or spending extra, however by having robust expertise and a lean, environment friendly construction. 2026 can be a chance, however the aim stays to continue to grow the workforce with out falling for the ‘clean sheet impact’ phantasm.”
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