Ferrari’s Sporting Director Laurent Mekies expects the squad to quickly adapt to the absence of Team Principal Mattia Binotto at this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix.
Binotto has elected not to travel to the upcoming round at Istanbul Park – the first Formula 1 event he has missed since becoming Ferrari’s team boss at the start of 2019.
It mirrors the decision taken by Toto Wolff to skip last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, instead working remotely, having previously attended each round since 2014.
In explaining his decision Binotto said that he is wary of the “need always to balance your tasks at the racetrack and at the factory; still the factory is important where we are developing the car.”
In Binotto’s absence Mekies is set to be the most senior Ferrari figure present on the ground in Turkey.
“Mattia has always approached his role in an innovative way, trying to think outside the box,” said Mekies.
“He has come up with a method of working that gives the flexibility to manage the priorities in the most efficient way possible.
“He had already adopted this approach when he was Technical Director and has applied it even more so now as Team Principal.
“At first it might seem strange not to see him physically in the briefings or on the pit wall, but he will make use of all the current communication technologies so that his voice and input will be loud and clear to everyone, both inside and outside the team.”
Ferrari has endured a troubled year, and holds only sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, but has shown an upturn in potential at recent events, coinciding with a raft of updates to its SF1000.
“Looking at the track characteristics, it won’t be an easy weekend for us,” said Mekies.
“Nevertheless, the pecking order behind the top three drivers is always very close as it has been all season and the slightest thing can make the difference between fighting for a place on the second row or not making it to Q2.
“Our main aim is to confirm the small progress we have seen in recent races and if possible, reduce the gap to those ahead of us in the Constructors’ Championship.”
