Italian Formula One team AlphaTauri have announced that their current Team Principal, Franz Tost, will step down from the role, and current Ferrari Sporting Director Laurent Mekies will join them as their new Team Principal from the 2024 season onwards. The team have also stated that former FIA executive Peter Bayer will join them as their Chief Executive Officer later this year.
Tost, who is one of the longest-serving Team Principals on the grid, will leave the team after 19 years. He joined them in their first year in Formula One in 2005 and oversaw their transition from Toro Rosso to Scuderia AlphaTauri.
For Mekies, it’s a homecoming as he returns to the team he spent his early days in Formula One with, serving as race engineer, Chief Engineer and also Head of Vehicle Performance.
Also read: Formula One 2023 : Team Principals
Franz Tost, Team Principal, Scuderia AlphaTauri, said:
“First of all, I would like to thank Dietrich Mateschitz, who gave me the incredible opportunity to be Team Principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the past 18 years. It has been a true privilege to lead the Team for such a long period and a great pleasure to work with so many motivated and skilled people, who share my passion for Formula 1. With 67 years old it is time to hand over and with Peter as new CEO and Laurent as Team Principal, we found two very professional people, who will bring the Team to the next level. I want to thank everyone for the good cooperation.“
Laurent Mekies stated:
“Firstly, I’d like to pay tribute to Franz for the great job he has done over almost two decades in charge at Faenza. I wish him well for the future and I know that both Peter and I will rely on his input and advice in times to come. Looking forward, I am honoured to take on the role of Team Principal and to return to the team where I spent a large portion of my early career. Scuderia AlphaTauri has all of the ingredients necessary for greater success in the future and in tandem with Peter I’m looking forward to making that happen.“
Peter Bayer said:
“I would also like to thank Franz for his dedication to Scuderia AlphaTauri and its predecessor, Scuderia Toro Rosso. His commitment to developing young talent has resulted in a Formula 1 grid where 25% of the drivers have benefited from his guidance. It is a great privilege for me, too, to take on the role of CEO at the Team and working alongside Laurent. Scuderia AlphaTauri has a fantastic team of people and great infrastructure in Faenza and in the UK. I am very much looking forward to building on those key elements to increase performance, on an off track, and to bring the Team even more success in the coming years.“
Oliver Mintzlaff, Chief Executive of Corporate Projects and Investments, Red Bull GmbH, added:
“Firstly, I would like to thank Franz Tost for his hard work at Scuderia AlphaTauri and Scuderia Toro Rosso over the past 18 years. Throughout his time at the team Franz has been driven by a singular vision – the pursuit of ever more performance from machine and from driver. His leadership resulted in outstanding victories and in the development of some of the finest talents ever seen in Formula 1. Replacing him as he steps back has not been easy and has resulted in a redefinition of the management structure at the Team. I am therefore very pleased to welcome Peter Bayer as CEO and Laurent Mekies as Team Principal. Both have huge experience in top positions in Formula 1 and together I am sure they will take Scuderia AlphaTauri to even greater heights in the future.“
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