Red Bull team boss Christian Horner makes it clear that there will be no “hostage exchange” by top engineers in connection with the change from Ferrari sports director Laurent Mekies to AlphaTauri. Mekies was announced a few days ago as the successor to team boss Franz Tost, who will step down at the end of the year.
But the problem is that Mekies is currently still tied to Ferrari. Although team boss Frederic Vasseur had said that he would not put any obstacles in the way of his colleague, it is unclear when the Frenchman will be able to leave Ferrari. Because he has a long-term contract with Scuderia, an agreement from both sides will be necessary.
“First of all, it’s a matter between Laurent and Fred,” says Franz Tost about his successor plan. “And then Red Bull will play a big role. I think that [Red-Bull-Sportchef] Oliver Mintzlaff will talk to the Ferrari President and find a solution.”
It is conceivable that Ferrari could release Mekies earlier in exchange for earlier access to former Red Bull employees who are currently released. In addition, rumors say that Ferrari has tried to poach top staff from Red Bull – such as technical director Pierre Wache.
Horner relegates rumors to the realm of fables
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner dismisses rumors about possible Ferrari changes among his most important employees to the realm of fables and emphasizes their commitment to Red Bull but it will not be about top-level personnel.
“Will there be a hostage swap for Laurent Mekies? Well, we don’t have any hostages,” says Horner. “Regarding the transfer of personnel to Ferrari, certainly nothing is planned at a senior or middle level.”
He says: “Individuals who have been identified in relation to Ferrari have come up to me last week and told me that they don’t believe some of these rumours. But, you know, this is Formula 1 and that’s going to happen inevitably. But there are no plans for any senior members of our team to go to Maranello.”
An important employee will definitely not switch to Ferrari: star designer Adrian Newey extended his contract with Red Bull this week.