AlphaTauri has introduced that Tost will step down as group principal on the finish of the 2023 season, with Mekies on account of return to the Italian squad in his place – and can be part of the group at an undisclosed date.
As well as, former FIA govt director Peter Bayer will be part of AlphaTauri later this season as its CEO, along with his remit to supervise the strategic path of the group throughout each its services in Italy and the UK.
Tost had been in command of the group since 2006, having been appointed by Crimson Bull GmbH as soon as it had accomplished its takeover of the Minardi group on the finish of 2005.
The Austrian oversaw two victories on the squad in its Scuderia Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri guises, each at Monza, as Sebastian Vettel secured victory in a moist 2008 race and Pierre Gasly doubled the Faenza group’s tally in 2020.
Franz Tost, Staff Principal, Scuderia AlphaTauri
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Nonetheless, the current downturn in efficiency on the group had positioned Tost underneath the microscope, and his recent comments regarding a lack of trust in the AlphaTauri engineers had not gone down significantly effectively inside the camp.
“To begin with, I want to thank Dietrich Mateschitz, who gave me the unimaginable alternative to be group principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the previous 18 years,” Tost stated, who will retain hyperlinks with the group on a consultancy foundation.
“It has been a real privilege to guide the group for such an extended interval and an awesome pleasure to work with so many motivated and expert folks, who share my ardour for System 1.
“At 67 years previous it’s time to hand over and with Peter as new CEO and Laurent as group principal, we discovered two very skilled folks, who will convey the group to the following stage.”
Mekies had served as a race engineer and head of car efficiency at Toro Rosso, having been with the group throughout its Minardi days, earlier than departing for the FIA.
Laurent Mekies, Racing Director, Scuderia Ferrari
Picture by: Ferrari
The Frenchman labored for the motorsport governing physique as security director and deputy race director, and had been touted as a successor to the late Charlie Whiting, earlier than transferring to Ferrari as sporting director in 2018.
“Firstly, I’d prefer to pay tribute to Franz for the good job he has carried out over nearly twenty years in cost at Faenza,” Mekies said.
“I want him effectively for the long run and I do know that each Peter and I’ll depend on his enter and recommendation in occasions to come back. Wanting ahead, I’m honoured to tackle the position of group principal and to return to the group the place I spent a big portion of my early profession.
“AlphaTauri has all the components mandatory for better success sooner or later and in tandem with Peter I’m wanting ahead to creating that occur.”
Peter Bayer
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
For his half, Bayer departed the FIA halfway by means of 2022 having served because the secretary normal for sport on the governing physique earlier than including his F1 govt director position to the combo in 2021.
“I might additionally prefer to thank Franz for his dedication to Scuderia AlphaTauri and its predecessor, Scuderia Toro Rosso,” Bayer stated.
“It’s a nice privilege for me, too, to tackle the position of CEO on the group and dealing alongside Laurent. AlphaTauri has a implausible group of individuals and nice infrastructure in Faenza and within the UK.
“I’m very a lot wanting ahead to constructing on these key components to extend efficiency, on and off monitor, and to convey the group much more success within the coming years.”
