Isack Hadjar reacts to Laurent Mekies’ departure
On the eve of his first laps around the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the French driver spoke about the most important development in Formula 1 in recent days: the appointment of Laurent Mekies as head of Red Bull Racing to replace Christian Horner.
As the second half of the season kicks off this weekend in Belgium, Isack Hadjar reflected on the appointment of his now former boss Laurent Mekies at Red Bull Racing. Maintaining a good relationship with the French engineer, the Racing Bulls driver did not hide slight disappointment when he heard the news.
« When it was announced, I was in the simulator. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed when I read the news because I had an excellent relationship with him (Laurent Mekies, editor’s note). I keep it and will always have it, but it’s a bit of a shame because he was really appreciated. However, I am very happy for him and his new mission. »
In place of the former Team Principal of the Faenza team, Hadjar and his teammate Liam Lawson will now have Alan Permane as team director.
The other element Hadjar mentioned, besides his relationship with Mekies, is his engineering knowledge. An engineering graduate, the French leader started in F1 at Toro Rosso, working notably for the current Endurance and Formula E driver, Jean-Eric Vergne.
« I learned who he really was in all aspects of engineering. I didn’t know a Team Principal could be so good in this area. He is very close to the drivers and helps us in making important decisions. He is remarkable in this aspect. In any case, he is constantly looking to bring pure performance.
A beautiful tribute from a driver to his former boss. Who knows? Maybe they will find themselves under the same colors again in a few months?
