Permane’s plan of action at Racing Bulls: ‘Keep things as they are’

F1 veteran Alan Permane has spoken for the first time about his recent surprise appointment as Racing Bulls team principal, a role he admits caught him off guard but one he is now embracing with pride and optimism.

Permane, who has been an enduring presence in the F1 paddock for over three decades, stepped up from his role as Racing Bulls racing director following the recent reshuffle triggered by Christian Horner’s sudden departure from Red Bull after 20 years at the helm.

Laurent Mekies, who had led Racing Bulls since the team’s rebranding, was swiftly named as Horner’s successor, prompting the promotion of Permane to the top job at the Faenza-based outfit.

A Surprise Promotion

Permane, who joined Racing Bulls as racing director in January 2024 after a storied career at Enstone through its Benetton, Renault, Lotus, and Alpine iterations, admitted the promotion was totally unexpected.

“I had many reactions to the news, some shock, some pride,” Permane told Motorsport.com.

The unexpected elevation to team principal was indeed not something he had anticipated, but he expressed gratitude for the faith placed in him by Red Bull’s leadership.

“It's amazing that they feel I'm capable and have the potential to lead this team. I deeply thank the Red Bull Austria senior management, Oliver Mintzlaff and Helmut Marko, and, of course, Laurent for recommending me, pushing me forward, his belief in me as well. It's been a great week.”

Building on a Strong Foundation

With just two weeks to settle into his new role before the Belgian Grand Prix, Permane is stepping into a team that has seen a remarkable upswing in performance under the management of Mekies and CEO Peter Bayer.

Racing Bulls has emerged as a genuine midfield contender, and Permane is keen to maintain that momentum.

“Well, the plan of action is to keep things as they are,” he pointed out. “Laurent and Peter have done a fantastic job with this team over the last 18 months, leading to a surge in competitiveness. And my plan is to keep that running, keep the team on the same trajectory as it's been on.”

Permane emphasized the team’s strong foundation and Red Bull’s satisfaction with its progress.

“It's a great team and I know that the senior Red Bull guys are extremely happy with the way the team is being run,” he added.

“They're very happy with our competitiveness. The target is to be top of the midfield, and we are certainly in a battle for that and we'll continue that fight throughout this year.”

A Switch from Milton Keynes to Faenza

Permane’s new responsibilities also come with a shift in work-life dynamics. While previously based mostly in Milton Keynes, he now anticipates more time in Italy, where the majority of Racing Bulls' operations are located.

“From my side, it's certainly going to mean some more travel,” he explained. “I'm predominantly based in Milton Keynes.

“In my previous role as racing director, I did spend some time in Italy, but it will no doubt mean I will split my time between the two sites. Probably a little bit more on the Faenza side, where that larger part of the team is.”

He also reflected on the transition from his long-standing trackside role to the broader leadership challenge.

“I think sporting director gives you a decent grounding,” he said. “It's a much bigger role, of course. As a sporting director, you manage a group of 60 or 70 people.

“You sit on FIA committees. You work with the FIA, with stewards, with penalties and protests and things like that. So, you have a very good grounding and basis to take this job on, but it's of course a much bigger role.

“There will be many things that are new, but I'm very ready to take it on and then I'm confident I'll do a good job.”

No Immediate Replacement for Racing Director

For now, Racing Bulls will not be appointing a direct replacement for Permane’s previous role as racing director. Instead, the team will rely on chief race engineer Mattia Spini to take on extra responsibilities during the transition.

“At the moment we won't fill it. We won't change things immediately,” Permane explained.

“Mattia will step up, and he's an excellent chief race engineer, and he's keen to do more, and he certainly has the capability to do more.

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“Inevitably, I will be involved a bit more in that side of the business than Laurent was, certainly at the start, just making sure that that transition is as smooth as it can be. But I don't have any worries on that side. The track side team between Milton Keynes and Faenza is very strong.”

With the next race fast approaching and expectations growing within the Red Bull network, Permane’s focus is clear: to build on the momentum set by his predecessor and steer Racing Bulls further up the grid – all while navigating the demands of dual leadership across two countries.

The challenge is significant, but as the F1 veteran himself puts it, he’s more than ready to take it on.

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