McLaren slam Ferrari over Mekies appointment

McLaren slam Ferrari over Mekies appointment

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Thursday 15 March 2018 17:39

Tension among Formula 1 teams heightened this week after Ferrari announced they had hired the FIA's safety director Laurent Mekies. McLaren sporting director Eric Boullier has accused the Scuderia of breaking a "gentlemen's agreement".

Mekies, who led the introduction of the halo safety device, is set to join Ferrari in September, reporting to technical director Mattia Binotto.

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He is the second FIA employee to join an F1 team in recent months after Renault hired FIA technical chief Marcin Budkowski - a move that angered their rivals as Budkowski had previously been privy to top-secret technical information from up and down the grid.

The FIA said in a statement confirming Mekies departure that he would immediately stop working on F1.

F1's Strategy Group had previously agreed that FIA officials would require to enter a year-long period of gardening leave before starting roles at teams, however Mekies will join Ferrari after six months.

"We very unhappy with the FIA for losing yet another key employee to a racing team," Boullier told Motorsport.

"Especially after it was agreed by all teams at the last Strategy Group meeting that no key technical FIA employees would be employed by a race team within 12 months of leaving the FIA.

"Ferrari went against the gentleman's agreement, and the FIA has not enforced it."