Franz Tost will step down from his role as Team Principal at AlphaTauri after being with the team since 2005.
Before, you think this is it for Tost at AlphaTauri though it is not, with him continuing at the team in a consultancy role for 2024.
Ferrari’s current Sporting director Laurent Mekies will be the one to take on the role after Tost steps down at the end of the season.
Mekies had been in the role at Ferrari since 2019 and was also appointed as Racing Director and Head of Track area for Ferrari as recently as 2021.
This comes with a restructuring currently taking place at AlphaTauri, with former FIA executive Peter Bayer also joining the team as Chief Executive Officer later this year.
Here is what Tost had to say on his departure from the team:
“First of all, I would like to thank Dietrich Mateschitz, who gave me the incredible opportunity to be Team Principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the past 18 years. It has been a true privilege to lead the Team for such a long period and a great pleasure to work with so many motivated and skilled people, who share my passion for Formula 1. With 67 years old it is time to hand over and with Peter as new CEO and Laurent as Team Principal, we found two very professional people, who will bring the Team to the next level. I want to thank everyone for the good cooperation.”
Mekies is feeling honoured to take on the role:
“Firstly, I’d like to pay tribute to Franz for the great job he has done over almost two decades in charge at Faenza. I wish him well for the future and I know that both Peter and I will rely on his input and advice in times to come. Looking forward, I am honoured to take on the role of Team Principal and to return to the team where I spent a large portion of my early career. Scuderia AlphaTauri has all of the ingredients necessary for greater success in the future and in tandem with Peter I’m looking forward to making that happen.”