He speaks, and on the similar time by no means misses the possibility 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 straightforward 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 present 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 workforce he has led for a few seasons, to the way forward for Formulation 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 strain and roles between VCARB and the Scuderia?
“Truthfully, I believe nothing can evaluate to Ferrari — in a optimistic sense. The Scuderia is a singular entity, not simply because it’s a high workforce and we’re a midfield workforce, if you wish to name it that. However typically. I believe it’s higher to talk of 1 chapter that’s closed and a brand new one which has simply begun. As for strain, that’s all the time current, in each small and massive groups. It is determined by the competitiveness of the folks concerned. And on this setting, 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 executed 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 joyful 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 executed. 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 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, but it surely’s a part of the sport.”
Wanting at this time, you’re going by means 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 may’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 essential progress: the expertise everyone knows is coming again. Perhaps it hasn’t been so seen, however he’s actually pushing exhausting and doing properly — which means he feels good with himself and with the workforce. 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 focus is on progress. And now we have to assist him develop. However the basis is superb, as we noticed in qualifying in Australia. Even off observe, he’s humble, joyful, and a tough employee. Earlier than we transfer on, can I add one thing?”
After all…
“I believe our driver pairing has executed 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 big hole between us and the remaining. 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 workforce’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 sophisticated to handle these conditions, particularly when you’ve got two rookies. However it’s our DNA, our cause for being, and now we have to mix that with the objective 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 selections with out consulting you?
“I’d wish to be clear: it’ll 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 vital, to supply the mum or dad 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.”
As regards to Purple Bull advisors, there’s been speak about 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 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 perspective of a workforce that may focus ‘solely’ on constructing the automotive, and never on the facility unit, which would be the principal problem?
“Permit me a small correction. I wouldn’t communicate of solely aerodynamics: now we have to construct a complete automotive — designed and produced between Faenza and Milton Keynes. All underneath Visa Money App Racing Bulls, apart from the elements 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 occurring alongside aerodynamic improvement. It will likely be the largest change in current F1 historical past, and I believe it’ll reshuffle the pecking order. It’s such a deep revolution that it will be actually exhausting to have the identical image as at this time.”
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 are able to win’. We should keep targeted on workforce progress. In current months we’ve made large modifications, and we nonetheless have room to develop to be within the combat proper behind the highest groups — and thoughts you, that will imply beating at the least two constructors. However I imagine we are able to attain that objective not by getting greater or spending extra, however by having sturdy expertise and a lean, environment friendly construction. 2026 shall be a chance, however the objective stays to continue to grow the workforce with out falling for the ‘clean sheet impact’ phantasm.”
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