Ferrari appoint loverno as Sporting Director as Mekies leaves
28th July 2023Scuderia Ferrari has confirmed Diego loverno will take over as the team’s Sporting Director as Laurent Mekies has officially left the team ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
It was announced earlier this year, in April, that Alpha Tauri’s Team Principle, Franz Tost, will depart the Faenza-based team at the end of the season.
As such, Ferrari’s – now former – Sporting Director, Mekies has been pried away from Ferrari to return to Alpha Tauri – formerly Toro Rosso – to replace Tost as the new Team Principle.
Despite the news in April, Mekies remained and worked with Ferrari in his Sporting Director capacity until last weekend’s race at the Hungarian Grand Prix as his exit terms were finalised between Ferrari and Alpha Tauri.
As the Scuderia would have been without a sporting director ahead of the final race before the summer break in 2023, loverno was appointed to take over Mekies’ role.
In a statement, released by Ferrari, the team said:
“Laurent Mekies’ time at Scuderia Ferrari comes to an end this week. The Racing Director will not be in Belgium and he leaves the Prancing Horse after four and a half seasons, during which time the team took seven wins. The entire team thanks him for his great contribution during those years.
“As from the Belgian Gran Prix, part of Laurent’s duties on the pitwall will be carried out by Diego Loverno, who takes on the role of Sporting Director. He will be responsible for all sporting matters, as well as liaising with the FIA.
“Loverno is a veteran member of the Scuderia having worked in Maranello for the past 23 years. Along with his colleagues on the pit wall, Matteo Togninalli, Head of track Engineering and Ravin Jain, Race Strategist, he will report directly to the Team Principle, Fred Vasseur.”
While Mekies has now officially departed Ferrari, it is unclear when the former Ferrari man will join Alpha Tauri ahead of his appointment as Team Principle in 2024. However, his counterpart in the new ‘dynamic leadership’ structure in Faenza, Peter Bayer took up his position as CEO in June.
That’s all for the article; Ferrari appoints loverno as Sporting Director as Mekies leaves!
Read more Formula 1 here:
- All 10 F1 teams to support F1 Academy drivers
- Alfa Romeo set to showcase KICK-inspired special livery at Belgium GP
- Ricciardo says there’s a lot ‘to be happy about’ after F1 return
- Red Bull makes history as Verstappen dominates Hungary GP
- F1 Hungary GP: LIVE
- F1 Hungary GP: Hamilton secures 104th pole with sensational lap
Give us a follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from the world of Motorsport! You can also support us on Patreon or on our website!
Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
