Frédéric Vasseur sees Laurent Mekies as “one of the pillars of the team for the future”

Frédéric Vasseur is discovering the joys that fall to the main team of the most volcanic of the stables of Formula 1. After only one small Grand Prix, out of the 23 that the 2023 season promises, the crisis is already brewing Maranello (Italy) !

It must be said that Ferrari's entry into Bahrain was not the most peaceful. 12 months after signing a resounding double, the Scuderia and its new strongman saw Charles Leclerc abandon due to an engine problem.

Even more worrying, the performance level of the SF-23 was far from that of the Red Bull RB19, or evenAston Martin AMR23. If the Reds created an illusion in qualifying, the pace in the race frankly left something to be desired, little helped by tire degradation which still gives a cold sweat to Carlos Sainz, anonymous 4th in the desert.

It didn't take much for the Italian media to report internal tensions at Ferrari and plans to leave. It seems like Captain Vasseur already has a mutiny on his hands!

During a press conference organized before the Saudi Arabian GP (March 17-19), the Frenchman confirmed the resignation of aerodynamicist David Sanchez, without wanting to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding this decision.

Asked whether other positions of responsibility could change hands in the coming days, Vasseur dismissed this prospect out of hand.

« It's part of the life of a Formula 1 team, commented Vasseur. We do a lot of recruitment, there is turnover every year. We have a solid group. We are building for the future. Key positions are not affected by departures ».

« I have known Laurent for 25 years »

Asked more specifically about the future of sporting director Laurent Mekies, who would have been leaving for F1 according to the Italian media, Vasseur responded that his compatriot, who arrived from the FIA ​​in 2018, was not going to leave Maranello.

« I have known Laurent for 25 years, declared the team principal. I trust him fully. We have a great collaboration together. He will be one of the pillars of the team for the future ».

As for the possible discontent of the troops after Bahrain, Vasseur replied that he was the first to be disappointed.

« It's normal to have unhappy people when you don't get the results you're aiming for., he said. For example, I am personally not satisfied! The most important thing is to work as a team, to draw the quintessence of the collective to improve ».

Vasseur expects a reaction from the Reds this weekend in Jeddah, an ultra-fast urban circuit which should better suit the SF-23, even if Charles Leclerc already knows that he will have to fall back at least 10 places on the grid departure due to engine penalty.