Italian Blood Spewing Out as Ferrari Looks at Another Possible F1 Senior Exit

Ferrari‘s 2023 season start, despite significant modifications and entering with high hopes, has not gone as expected. The house of cards that it had built over the years appears to be crumbling down. And to make matters worse, the most recent information indicates that Laurent Mekies, one of its senior executives, may be considering quitting Ferrari.

Mekies joined Ferrari in 2018 and has been a key member of the team since 2021, serving as the team’s assistant principal and race director. Nevertheless, he reportedly wants to go due to his dissatisfaction with Benedetto Vigna’s new management style as Ferrari’s CEO.

A rift within the Ferrari camp?

Mekies has reportedly received offers from Alpine, Liberty Media, and his former employer, the FIA, as per Formu1a.uno. Many Ferrari employees have departed this year before Mekies. For instance, it is said that the head of aerodynamics, David Sanchez, will transfer from Ferrari to McLaren. 

Ferrari has faced difficult times before, but Mekies’ exit might be a significant setback. And according to reports, Frederic Vasseur, the team’s new manager, wants to retain him on staff. Despite the two executives, Binotto and Vasseur, frequent communication, Vasseur’s hiring as part of a restructuring at Ferrari following Mattia Binotto’s resignation has only resulted in the formation of two camps.

Vasseur’s hiring has divided the squad, with several senior members of the Binotto camp allegedly not pleased with the choice. The appointment even divided the team’s CEO and chairperson.

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Ferrari would suffer greatly if Mekies and other important personnel left. However, the team doesn’t want to look outside the organization for successors because of the good supply within.

Charles Leclerc next to leave the Maranello-based outfit? 

This season will be Charles Leclerc’s fifth straight season with Ferrari. He joined the prancing horse to fulfill his dream and win the championship, but it seems like only the first part of the agreement has been and will be fulfilled. After a tumultuous start to the season, the driver reportedly met with Ferrari president John Elkann to discuss the troubles.

Leclerc’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season. So, it becomes a priority for the team to get it renewed asap. This meeting thus comes as a prominent development for the team. The young Monegasque might have a feeling that his time at Ferrarin might have to come to an end to boost his career. 

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What’s in store for Tifosi and the team itself is unknown. Can they still turn around the season after staying a second behind the RB19? They have no option but to do so.