Scuderia AlphaTauri have announced that a new senior management structure will be put in place at the Faenza-based outfit, a change that will see current team boss Franz Tost leave the team at the end of the 2023 season.
Former FIA executive Peter Bayer will join AlphaTauri as Chief Executive Officer later this year, while current Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies will join the Italian outfit as its new Team Principal, the Frenchman moving to Faenza at a date to be confirmed.
The changes will bring an end to Tost's remarkable 18-year tenure at the helm of Red Bull's sister outfit which was acquired by the energy drink company from Giancarlo Minardi in 2005.
During his time with the team Tost oversaw the formative years in F1 of a generation of Grand Prix winners, including four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, two-time world champion Max Verstappen and race winners Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz.
As a testimony to the Austrian's longstanding contribution to the team, Tost will continue to work with AlphaTauri in a consultancy role in 2024.
"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," said Tost.
"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."
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Peter Bayer joins AlphaTauri as its CEO having most recently acted as F1 Executive Director and Secretary General for Sport at the FIA. Bayer will oversee the strategic direction of the team at its facilities in Faenza and in the UK.
"I would also like to thank Franz for his dedication to Scuderia AlphaTauri and its predecessor, Scuderia Toro Rosso," commented Bayer.
"His commitment to developing young talent has resulted in a Formula 1 grid where 25% of the drivers have benefited from his guidance.
"Scuderia AlphaTauri has a fantastic team of people and great infrastructure in Faenza and in the UK.
"I am very much looking forward to building on those key elements to increase performance, on an off track, and to bring the Team even more success in the coming years."
Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies will join AlphaTauri as its new Team Principal from 2024.
Mekies appointment as Team principal at AlphaTauri is a homecoming of sorts for the Frenchman who spent his early years in F1 with Toro Rosso, first as a race engineer and ultimately as Chief Engineer and Head of Vehicle Performance.
"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," said Mekies.
"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."
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