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 simple 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 nice 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 System 1, with out forgetting his time at Ferrari or current developments within the sport.
Laurent, many individuals bear in mind you to your time at Ferrari: are you able to clarify the distinction in stress and roles between VCARB and the Scuderia?
“Truthfully, I feel nothing can examine to Ferrari — in a constructive sense. The Scuderia is a singular entity, not simply because it’s a high crew and we’re a midfield crew, if you wish to name it that. However normally. I feel 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 individuals concerned. And on this atmosphere, we — I imply all of us — are extraordinarily aggressive.”
You’ve just lately bid farewell to Yuki Tsunoda, who’s been promoted to Purple Bull. Are you pleased with the work completed 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 actually completely satisfied 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 completed. Alongside chasing most competitiveness, creating drivers for the Purple Bull household is our precedence. In the event that they wanted drivers and we had nothing to supply, that will 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, however it’s a part of the sport.”
Wanting at this time, you’re going by way of a season with a line-up the place Hadjar is proving to be a significant 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 prior to now now. He’s again with us, getting right into a automobile 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 nicely — meaning 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 unprecedented start line, though for us the main target is on progress. And we’ve to assist him develop. However the basis is great, as we noticed in qualifying in Australia. Even off observe, he’s humble, completely satisfied, and a tough employee. Earlier than we transfer on, can I add one thing?”
In fact…
“I feel our driver pairing has completed about twenty races in whole — combining Liam and Isack. I invite you to place that knowledge on a chart in comparison with the opposite 9 groups, and also you’ll see the big 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 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 crew’s progress in the long run?
“It’s by no means a bonus — no level in pretending in any other case. It’s all the time difficult to handle these conditions, particularly when you could have two rookies. Nevertheless it’s our DNA, our cause for being, and we’ve to mix that with the purpose 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 function of their promotion to Purple Bull, or does Helmut Marko make the choices 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 simply, when mandatory, to offer the guardian 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 Purple Bull advisors, there’s been discuss a potential arrival of Sebastian Vettel. What do you make of those rumours, particularly given your earlier connection at Ferrari?
“Truthfully, I feel speaking about Helmut Marko slowing down his work is pure science fiction (he laughs). Given the vitality he places into his function, his involvement in long-term selections, and his dedication to driver choice, I don’t consider something will occur within the brief time period, whatever the rumours and names circulating in current weeks.”
Let’s look to the long run. What do you consider the 2026 rules, particularly from the standpoint of a crew that may focus ‘solely’ on constructing the automobile, and never on the ability unit, which would be the fundamental problem?
“Permit me a small correction. I wouldn’t communicate of solely aerodynamics: we’ve to construct a complete automobile — designed and produced between Faenza and Milton Keynes. All beneath Visa Money App Racing Bulls, apart from the components we purchase from Purple Bull, like gearbox and suspension. We make 80% of the automobile. In 2026, there might be a regulation that requires ranging from a clean sheet — deciding the place to position issues within the automobile, the radiators, equipment. All the things. There’s an enormous quantity of conceptual and design work occurring alongside aerodynamic growth. It will likely be the largest change in current F1 historical past, and I feel 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 present.”
Let me be direct: are you saying that you simply, too, might have a shot on the high?
“I feel 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 progress. In current months we’ve made huge modifications, and we nonetheless have room to develop to be within the battle proper behind the highest groups — and thoughts you, that will imply beating a minimum of two constructors. However I consider we are able to attain that purpose not by getting greater or spending extra, however by having sturdy expertise and a lean, environment friendly construction. 2026 might be a possibility, however the purpose stays to continue to grow the crew with out falling for the ‘clean sheet impact’ phantasm.”
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