AlphaTauri have introduced their long-serving group principal Franz Tost will step down on the finish of this season, and get replaced by Ferrari’s racing director Laurent Mekies.

Tost has been on the helm of AlphaTauri since their first race in Method 1 in 2006, when the group was often known as Toro Rosso. He’s the second longest-serving principal at any group – solely Pink Bull’s Christian Horner has been answerable for his outfit for longer.

Throughout Tost’s tenue his group has reached the rostrum on 5 events, and received at Monza in 2008 and 2020. For almost all of the group’s existence it was thought of as Pink Bull’s B-team, and a number of other of its drivers moved onto the senior squad, some like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel having fun with nice success.

After he has stepped down, Tost will transfer right into a consultancy place with AlphaTauri for the 2024 season.

“To start with, I want to thank [Red Bull’s late co-founder] Dietrich Mateschitz, who gave me the unimaginable alternative to be group principal of Scuderia Toro Rosso and Scuderia AlphaTauri for the previous 18 years,” stated Tost.

“It has been a real privilege to steer the group for such an extended interval and an amazing pleasure to work with so many motivated and expert folks, who share my ardour for F1.”

Peter Bayer, who served because the FIA’s secretary common for sport from 2017 to 2022 and as F1’s government director from 2021 to the summer season of final yr, has been signed as the brand new chief government officer of AlphaTauri and can tackle his new place later this yr.

“[At] 67 years outdated it’s time to hand over and with Peter as new CEO and Laurent as group principal, we discovered two very skilled individuals who will carry the group to the subsequent stage,” stated Tost. “I wish to thank everybody for the great co-operation.”

The arrival date of Mekies can also be unconfirmed, given he’s nonetheless underneath contract with Ferrari. However he already is aware of his subsequent group effectively having labored at its Faenza base within the early 2000s when it was often known as Minardi.

Mekies engineered a number of drivers on the group earlier than Pink Bull’s takeover, with the creation of Toro Rosso additionally resulting in a promotion for Mekies as he grew to become chief engineer. He left in 2014 to work for the FIA, then joined Ferrari in 2018.

“Firstly, I’d wish to pay tribute to Franz for the good job he has completed over virtually 20 years in cost at Faenza,” stated Mekies.

“I want him effectively for the longer term and I do know that each Peter and I’ll depend on his enter and recommendation in occasions to return. Wanting ahead, I’m honoured to tackle the function of group principal and to return to the group the place I spent a big portion of my early profession.

“Scuderia AlphaTauri has the entire substances essential for larger success sooner or later and in tandem with Peter I’m trying ahead to creating that occur.”

The group’s future has been the topic of hypothesis since Mateschitz’s loss of life final yr. Nonetheless final month Tost stated there have been “no basis” to rumours that Pink Bull have been contemplating promoting AlphaTauri.

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