He speaks, and on the similar 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 crew principal is neither straightforward nor with out commitments. And Laurent Mekies, head of the Visa Money App Racing Bulls crew, 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 offer 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 subjects — from the present state of the crew he has led for a few seasons, to the way forward for Components 1, with out forgetting his time at Ferrari or current developments within the sport.
Laurent, many individuals bear in mind you on 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 constructive sense. The Scuderia is a singular entity, not simply because it’s a prime crew and we’re a midfield crew, if you wish to name it that. However generally. 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 large groups. It relies on the competitiveness of the folks concerned. And on this atmosphere, we — I imply all of us — are extraordinarily aggressive.”
You’ve not too long ago bid farewell to Yuki Tsunoda, who’s been promoted to Purple Bull. Are you pleased with the work finished collectively?
“Seeing Tsunoda make the step as much as Purple Bull, after all of the progress he made with us final season, is one thing that makes us really pleased and pleased with our work. Simply 12 months in the past it appeared like science fiction, and now it’s actuality: we’re pleased with what we’ve finished. Alongside chasing most competitiveness, growing drivers for the Purple Bull household is our precedence. In the event that they wanted drivers and we had nothing to supply, that might be an enormous drawback. It’s one of many causes we’re right here. Most likely these swaps price us one thing by way of efficiency, it’s true, but it surely’s a part of the sport.”
Wanting at the moment, you’re going by way of a season with a line-up the place Hadjar is proving to be a serious shock and Lawson is bouncing again after his Purple Bull rejection. Ideas?
“Talking about Lawson, sure, he took an enormous hit from the Purple Bull races. Nobody might’ve predicted it, however that’s up to now now. He’s again with us, getting right into a automotive he didn’t know. We’ve seen him make vital progress: the expertise everyone knows is coming again. Possibly it hasn’t been so seen, however he’s actually pushing onerous and doing properly — which means he feels good with himself and with the crew. Hadjar is an enormous shock for everybody — besides Helmut Marko (he laughs). I need to say, from the second he began working with us as much as the primary race, he confirmed a rare place to begin, though for us the main target is on development. And now we have to assist him develop. However the basis is superb, as we noticed in qualifying in Australia. Even off monitor, he’s humble, pleased, 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 whole — 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 remainder. Most respect to everybody, however having two rookies means we are able to’t ask them for a similar issues anticipated from the opposite 18 drivers. Once more, we’re sacrificing one thing by way of 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 crew’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 will have two rookies. Nevertheless it’s our DNA, our motive for being, and now we have to mix that with the aim of combating on the prime of the midfield and maybe beating groups greater than us.”
Nonetheless on the subject of drivers: do you play a direct function of their promotion to Purple Bull, or does Helmut Marko make the selections with out consulting you?
“I’d wish to be clear: it is going to by no means be our job to decide on Purple Bull’s drivers. That’s as much as Helmut Marko and Christian Horner. Our function is barely, when mandatory, to supply the father or mother firm with legitimate choices. In 2024 we gave two legitimate choices with Lawson and Tsunoda, and this 12 months, when requested, we put one other legitimate title on the desk. And we’ll be able to do it once more.”
With regards to Purple 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 power he places into his function, 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 current weeks.”
Let’s look to the longer term. What do you consider the 2026 rules, particularly from the viewpoint of a crew that can focus ‘solely’ on constructing the automotive, and never on the ability unit, which would be the most important problem?
“Permit me a small correction. I wouldn’t communicate of solely aerodynamics: now we have to construct a whole automotive — designed and produced between Faenza and Milton Keynes. All below Visa Money App Racing Bulls, aside from the components we purchase from Purple Bull, like gearbox and suspension. We make 80% of the automotive. In 2026, there shall be a regulation that requires ranging from a clean sheet — deciding the place to put issues within the automotive, the radiators, equipment. All the pieces. There’s an enormous quantity of conceptual and design work taking place alongside aerodynamic improvement. Will probably be the largest change in current F1 historical past, and I believe it is going to reshuffle the pecking order. It’s such a deep revolution that it will be actually onerous to have the identical image as at the moment.”
Let me be direct: are you saying that you just, too, might have a shot on the prime?
“I believe that even when we’re all ranging from a clean sheet, we shouldn’t idiot ourselves by saying ‘Okay, we are able to win’. We should keep centered on crew development. In current months we’ve made huge modifications, and we nonetheless have room to develop to be within the combat proper behind the highest groups — and thoughts you, that might imply beating a minimum of two constructors. However I imagine we are able to attain that aim not by getting greater or spending extra, however by having sturdy expertise and a lean, environment friendly construction. 2026 shall be a possibility, however the aim stays to continue to grow the crew with out falling for the ‘clean sheet impact’ phantasm.”
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