Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri announced the change in a statement on Wednesday ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, saying it was aimed at ensuring continuity and securing long-term stability.
Austrian Peter Baer, who previously served as F1’s chief executive and general secretary for motorsport at the governing International Automobile Federation, will join as team chief executive later in the year.
AlphaTauri said Mekies’ start date has yet to be confirmed. Tost, 67, will remain chancellor in 2024, but the Austrian said it was time to hand over his day-to-day duties, according to Reuters.
Frenchman Mikis, who joined Ferrari in 2018 and is a former FIA deputy race director, will return to the team where he previously worked as engineer and head of vehicle performance.
Tost joined the Faenza team in November 2005, when Red Bull bought the old Minardi jersey and renamed it Scuderia Toro Rosso, and was in charge when they won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix with German Sebastian Vettel.
Only Red Bull boss Christian Horner has been in his job longer than the Austrian who first entered Formula 1 in 2000 as director of circuit operations with then-Williams partners BMW.
Mekies’ departure continues something of an exodus from Ferrari after the Italian team had a change of heart, with Fred Vasseur replacing Mattia Binotto in January.
David Sanchez, long-serving head of concept cars, left Maranello in March and is set to start working at McLaren in a senior technical role next January.
insignificant