Three questions to Laurent Mekies, Scuderia Ferrari Racing Director

09.11.2022: Laurent Mekies Nationality: France Born on 28/4/1977 in Tours (France) Can you tell us about your passion for motorsport? Where did it start? How did you get to Ferrari and what is your best memory so far from your time in red?

Laurent Mekies
Nationality: France
Born on 28/4/1977
in Tours (France)

Can you tell us about your passion for motorsport? Where did it start? How did you get to Ferrari and what is your best memory so far from your time in red?

“It all started, as is the case for most kids around the world, by being attracted and passionate about cars since a very early age, then being lucky enough to turn this passion into a job a few years later. Fortunately there are some great opportunities to start in the grassroots categories of motorsport after university, to then climb the ladder to eventually reach Formula 1.

After a long stint at Scuderia Toro Rosso and another one at the FIA, I was (again) lucky to cross Mattia’s path at a time when he was always looking to strengthening the team and that’s how I got the opportunity to join Ferrari. The best memory? Monza 2019 of course, as winning in front of our tifosi is something incomparable!”.

Can you describe the characteristics of the Interlagos track? What it normally takes to go fast on this circuit?

“It is one of well established venues on the calendar. It has plenty of character with a superb mix of middle speed corners and a seriously long uphill straight line at the end of the lap. So it’s a tough one for setup choices, downforce levels and so on.

It’s also a track where we have often had to deal with heavy rain in the past which makes for very unpredictable racing”.

This weekend we have the Sprint format for the third and last time in the season: what skills are highlighted both for the team and the drivers by this format?

“With the Sprint format you go straight into qualifying after only one hour of practice and that’s it. You cannot change the setup of the cars from that point onwards. So it puts some serious emphasis on the quality of your preparation work back at home, in terms of simulation and in the simulator with our drivers.

It also puts all drivers to the test, having to nail a qualifying lap after so little time to adapt. From that point onwards, it is a little bit like a 400km race, interrupted by a red flag after the first 100km (the Sprint)”.

– Ferrari also photos

 
 
•    The Autódromo José Carlos Pace is the fourth-shortest track on the 2022 F1 calendar at just 4.309 km long, only b more >> Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 – The penultimate round of the 2022 Formula One season takes place in São Paulo, Brazil

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022 We didn’t optimise every opportunity in Mexico, but we still managed to score good points with Lewis’s great drive to the podium and George’s P4 finish.   more >> Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN – The final Sprint

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN heads to Interlagos for the first event in the final back-to-back of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix. The race in Sao Paulo will also feature more >> Zhou Guanyu ahead Sao Paul GP -anything can really happen in the sprint race

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022

 
Zhou Guanyu # 24 Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN
 
 
“Some of the most iconic names of our sport come from more >> Valtteri Bottas quotes ahead of Sao Paulo GP -In good spirits

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022Valtteri Bottas #77 Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN “As a Formula One driver, the Brazilian Grand Prix is one of those races everyone wants to experience: more >> Frédéric Vasseur ahead of final race in Brazil

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022Frédéric Vasseur, Team PrincipalAlfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN “Going back to scoring points in Mexico was a good reward for the job more >> Daniel Ricciardo : Should be an interesting race at Sao Paulo

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022
DANIEL RICCIARDOMcLaren F1
 
 
“I’m excited to be heading to the track in São Paulo more >> Lando Norris -“want to get as high up as we can in Brazil”

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022LANDO NORRISMcLaren F1“The Interlagos circuit is a really fun place to race. The mixture of history with brilliant fans makes it such a gre more >> McLaren F1 – Everything you need to know for the São Paulo Grand Prix

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022It’s been an enjoyable week at the McLaren Technology Centre, with a feel-good performance at the Mexico City Grand Prix giving everyone an additional boost as we push toward more >> Yuki Tsunoda ahead the Sao Paulo sprint race – I’m confident

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022YUKI TSUNODAScuderia AlphaTauri“I will be racing in Brazil in a good frame of mind after Mexico, even though I retired from the race, as overall more >> Pierre Gasly ahead Brazilian GP – ready to take our chances

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022PIERRE GASLYScuderia AlphaTauri“I can look ahead to the final two races of the season taking some encouragement from the fact our perfo more >> Lance Stroll ahead Brazil GP – pick up some crucial points

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022Lance STROLL#18 Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team“Interlagos is a great circuit with a buzzing atmosphere and a great flow. It has a true old-schoo more >> Sebastian Vettel thoughts on Sao Paulo GP – Battle for Constructors’Championship

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022Sebastian VETTEL#5 Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team“I have some incredible memories of Brazil, including winning the World Cha more >> Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team Sao Paulo GP insight

09.11.2022 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos, Brazil11-13 November 2022Insight and Speed with Cognizant    •    Overtaking: Expect plenty of moves to be made throughout the race and more >> Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team announces partnership with XP

08.11.2022 Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One

Team (AMF1) is delighted to announce the commencement of a new partnership with Brazilian investment management company, XP. The multi-year partnership was announced on the eve of the 2022 Brazilian Grand Pri more >> Pirelli tyres on track for the Sao Paulo Grand-Prix

08.11.2022 HEINEKEN SAO PAULO GRAND PRIXInterlagos11-13 November 2022MARIO ISOLA – MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR “The three compounds in the middle of the range for a circuit where we expect a lot of overtaking”  more >> Mick Schumacher quotes on Sao Paulo GP – Feel comfortable

08.11.2022 HEINEKEN SAO PAULO GRAND PRIXInterlagos11-13 November 2022Mick Schumacher – Driver, No. 47 Haas F1Formula 1 returns to Brazil for the São Paulo Grand Prix, Round 21 of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 more >> Kevin Magnussen on Sao Paulo GP – So much history of Senna there

08.11.2022 HEINEKEN SAO PAULO GRAND PRIXInterlagos11-13 November 2022Kevin Magnussen – DriverNo. 20 Haas F1Formula 1 returns to Brazil for the São Paulo Grand Prix, Round 21 of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 Wor more >> Günther Steiner ahead of Sao Paulo GP – Final sprint

08.11.2022 HEINEKEN SAO PAULO GRAND PRIXInterlagos11-13 November 2022Guenther SteinerHaas F1 Team Principal:Formula 1 returns to Brazil for the São Paulo Grand Prix, Round 21 of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championsh more >> Haas F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix preview

08.11.2022 HEINEKEN SAO PAULO GRAND PRIXInterlagos11-13 November 2022The penultimate round of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship takes Haas F1 Team to South America, for the São Paulo Grand Prix, in Brazil. Brazil j more >> Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN Esports with best season result in event 3

05.11.2022 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship – Event 3

Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN Esports celebrated its best result of the season as Nico Longuet and Dani Bereznay finished in third and fourth place respectively at the Italian Grand Prix, the opening round o more >> Scuderia Alpha Tauri Esport in F1 Esports Series Pro Championship event 3 review

05.11.2022 The second half of the F1 Esports Pro Championship 2022, the virtual F1 series, got underway with Event 3 and this time, Scuderia Alpha Tauri Esports finished all three races consistently in the points, to maintain fifth place in the Team standings. more >> Education for a better tomorrow: Valtteri Bottas visits Save the Children-supported Early Childhood education hub

04.11.2022 … Center Lolita, in Mexico City    Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN driver, Valtteri Bottas, highlighted the crucial role played in development by early childhood education as he visited a Save the Children-supported Centre Lolita in Mexico City more >> 2022 Formula 1: How the Season-ending Standings are Shaping Up

03.11.2022 Max Verstappen and Red Bull have swept the Formula 1 Drivers and Constructors championships in style, but there’s still so much to fight for down the table.
This article gives a rundown of the closest championship battles going into the final two 2022 F1 races.
more >> Haas F1 Team Partners with OpenSea for Future NFT Collaborations

03.11.2022 Haas F1 Team, the only American-owned team competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, is pleased to announce a collaboration with OpenSea – the leading peer-to-peer marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs).As the ‘Official NFT Marketplace more >> Pirelli Tyre compound choices for Brazil and Abu Dhabi

03.11.2022 Pirelli Tyre compound choices for Brazil and Abu Dhabi

more >> Formula E champ Stoffel Vandoorne joins Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team in test and reserve role

01.11.2022 Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One

Team (AMF1) is delighted to announce that Stoffel Vandoorne will join the outfit’s driving roster for the 2023 season. He will join Brazil’s Felipe Drugovich as a test and reserve driver &n more >> The 2023 Formula1 Mexico City Grand Prix presented by Heineken announces early ticket on sale date

01.11.2022 •    After a successful event, tickets for the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix will go on sale November 16th, 2022 at 10:00 HRS Local Time.•    Due to high demand, some actions will be taken to encourage a more equitable sales process.Mexico City. 30 October 2022 – Tickets for the 2023 FORMULA 1 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX Present more >> Pirelli Mexico GP – How the race was won

31.10.2022 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2022Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City28-30 October 2022Sunday, October 30th 2022Mario Isola – Motorsport Director “A race where all three compounds se more >> Scuderia Ferrari F1 Mexico GP – a difficult race, quotes

31.10.2022 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2022 Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City28-30 October 2022Sunday, October 30th 2022Scuderia Ferrari’s Mexico City Grand Prix was straightforwa more >>