The Frenchman, who joined the Maranello-based outfit in September 2018 as sporting director after a long stint at the FIA, left the team in July 2023 — shortly before the Belgian Grand Prix — before serving a period of gardening leave and officially taking up his role as team principal of the Faenza-based squad in January 2024.

He then spent a year and a half at Racing Bulls before seizing the opportunity created by Christian Horner’s departure, stepping up as the new team boss of the Milton Keynes outfit this summer.

“Ferrari was a fantastic experience; I learned an enormous amount with Mattia and with the team — lessons I still carry with me,” Mekies told Corriere dello Sport.

This year, Ferrari endured a disappointing season compared to the high expectations set before the start, especially with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton. The team ultimately finished only fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, without a single win — a scenario they hadn’t faced since 2021.

When asked if he was surprised to see the team in such a state, Mekies added: “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. Formula 1 is extremely competitive. The line between success and failure is very thin, especially this year when just a few tenths made all the difference. I wish Ferrari all the best.”

After narrowly missing out on the title in his first half-season at the helm of the Austrian team, Mekies now faces another daunting challenge: steering the transition to the new regulations — and, above all, ensuring Red Bull do not feel the loss of Honda.

From next year onwards, Red Bull will be relying solely on its own resources after embarking on the ambitious Powertrains project, alongside the development of a car that will be radically different from the one that ended the season.