Ferrari Sporting Director Laurent Mekies is to become AlphaTauri’s Team Principal in Formula 1, with Franz Tost to step down at the end of 2023.
Tost has been at the helm of AlphaTauri since its existence as Toro Rosso in 2005, following Red Bull’s buyout of Minardi, but will relinquish his current position at the end of 2023.
Tost, 67, will remain at AlphaTauri in a consultancy role through 2024.
Mekies is to take on the role of Team Principal but his arrival date at the squad has not yet been confirmed.
Mekies previously worked at Toro Rosso, and prior at Minardi, before leaving in 2014 to join the FIA as its Safety Director and Deputy Race Director.
He joined Ferrari in 2018, rising to the role of Sporting Director, but will leave to return to AlphaTauri.
AlphaTauri has also announced the appointment of ex-FIA executive Peter Bayer as its new Chief Executive Officer. He will join later in 2023.
“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,” said Tost.
“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.
“At 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.”
Mekies will be responsible for the day-to-day running of AlphaTauri upon his arrival.
“Firstly, I’d like to pay tribute to Franz for the great job he has done over almost two decades in charge at Faenza,” said Mekies.
“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.”
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