Laurent Mékies, a French intellectual, is known for his radiant mood and warm personality. According to Visa Cash App RB’s press chief, Fabiana Valenti, Mékies is often the ray of sunshine in the room. In an engaging yet sometimes convoluted conversation, he confirmed his people-oriented nature. He shared insights about his life in an interview with FORMULE 1 Magazine.
Here’s a snippet from the interview:
Respect, civility, and humility are core values for Mékies. Despite being the boss, Valenti describes him as non-hierarchical. “I never have to fetch coffee for him, carry anything, or do anything of the sort. Laurent doesn’t see the need for it; he can do it all himself.” Just like his predecessor, Franz Tost, Mékies has quickly become popular among the team staff. After a decade, Mékies has returned to his old family nest, making it the perfect time for a renewed introduction.
Laurent’s Journey to Becoming a Formula 1 Team Boss
“That’s a fair question. And I think the honest answer is that it just happens. I’m almost certain the same applies to you and your work, to Fabi (Vcarbs’ head of communication who is present at the conversation) or anyone else. I don’t think we think that far ahead in time. Look, in Formula 1 we are all competitors and fans, I don’t know in which order. We love to compete, we love to win. We love the sport and everything we do is trying to contribute to it and also enjoy it. Every day again. And then the beauty of life is that you try to do that and along the way meet fantastic people, who shape you and also give you opportunities. So that’s how it actually went. The only really conscious decisions you make are probably the difficult ones, for example when you change jobs. But you don’t just do that with a view to a change in your career, you also do it with the idea of wanting to learn more.”
Early Ambitions in Formula 1
“I think it’s good for young drivers to have that ambition. In a certain sense, you could say that working in Formula 1 was also an ultimate goal for me as a child, you know. And then you get here, and… What drives you is wanting to learn. That’s it.”
Challenges of Running a Team in Formula 1
“Okay. You know, the biggest challenge is making sure all your people have the right environment to be able to perform.”
Is It That Simple?
“Actually, yes.”
