Ferrari confirm Mekies departure as Ioverno set to take on Sporting Director role

Laurent Mekies will not be in the paddock in Belgium this weekend, as Ferrari confirmed they will part ways with the Frenchman at the end of this week. Mekies was due to leave the team at the end of the season, after he was appointed as Franz Tost’s replacement at AlphaTauri next year.

With Mekies set to take up the role of Team Principal in Faenza, Ferrari have today announced Mekies will leave as their Sporting Director after four and a half seasons with the team.

Their statement 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.

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“As from the Belgian Grand Prix, part of Laurent’s duties on the pit wall will be carried out by Diego Ioverno, who takes on the role of Sporting Director. He will be responsible for all sporting matters, as well as liaising with the FIA.

“Ioverno 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 Team Principal, Fred Vasseur.”

Ioverno’s promotion is part of a restructuring effort for the Scuderia, who brought Fred Vasseur in at the beginning of the year in place of Mattia Binotto.

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Ferrari currently sit fourth in the constructors’ championship just over halfway through the season, with two podiums to their name – both coming courtesy of Charles Leclerc.