Horner tackles Ferrari over recruitment of Mekies

The atmosphere has already become tense in the Australian GP paddock as the season only begins in Melbourne. Interviewed by AUTOhebdo at a press conference about recruitment by the Team Ferrari of Laurent Mekies, current deputy race director and head of safety at the FIA, the Team Principal of Red Bull Racing Christian Horner did not mince his words.

The teams had in fact reached an agreement in principle during the last meeting of the Strategic Group of the F1 following recruitment by Renault by Marcin Budkowski, former head of the technical department at the FIA, as we tell you in AUTO issue 2157hebdo.

This departure caused the teams to react vigorously, forcing the Losange to double Budkowski's period of inactivity from three to six months. It is this harshness that separates Laurent Mekies from Scuderia Ferrari.

“What is disappointing is that we have something called a Strategic Group where the FIA, the FOM and all the team principals have come together and discussed Marcin's case... , mentioned Christian Horner at a press conference. Renault agreed to extend the deadline before his recruitment but we subsequently discussed the fact that this type of practice was not acceptable. All teams agreed on this point. The teams agreed that a period of at least 12 months without activities was reasonable for a member of the FIA, FOM or a rival team. »

“What disappoints me most is that this meeting took place less than six weeks ago, continued Christian Horner. This means that discussions were probably already underway. This makes these meetings practically useless if something that has been decided cannot be implemented. We can always hide by saying that it is not in the regulations…”

Maurizio Arrivabene, Christian Horner's counterpart at Ferrari, immediately responded to the attack.

“We have given a mandate to the FIA ​​and its lawyers to verify the national law of the country (Laurent Mekies depending on Swiss law) and to come back to us at the next meeting of the Strategic Group and this is what the FIA will be on April 17 », retorted the Italian.

“That’s what’s most disappointing., asked Horner again. It was Ferrari or Sergio (Marchionne, the president of Ferrari) who insisted on a period (of inactivity) of three years…”

Maurizio Arrivabene continued to defend Maranello's interests by citing simple discussions before the teams agreed on a request to the FIA. The heated exchange thus concluded. Toto wolff, the executive director of Mercedes Motorsport, for its part, considered that the case “was not important”.