The unexpected removal of Christian Horner following two decades in charge at Red Bull has also created a ripple effect throughout the entire Red Bull structure.
Following the appointment of Laurent Mekies as Horner’s successor, Red Bull’s top brass looked towards Racing Bulls’ racing director, Alan Permane, a figure well-known in the paddock, to take on the role of team leader. He will be in charge of the Anglo-Italian team’s 700 employees situated in Milton Keynes, UK, and Faenza, Italy.
From its origins as Benetton, then transitioning through Renault, Lotus, and Alpine, Permane was a constant presence at the Enstone-based team, working as both an engineer and sporting director, before his departure two years prior.
Afterward, Racing Bulls swiftly recruited him in January 2024 as their new racing director. He contributed his thirty years of experience to a team tasked by Red Bull with developing its distinct identity and striving for the top spot in the midfield.
Having been a part of the sport since 1989, the 58-year-old Permane has witnessed countless events. However, the prospect of becoming a team principal wasn’t something he anticipated, and it caught him off guard.
“My reaction to the announcement was varied, with elements of shock and pride,” Permane revealed in an exclusive interview with Autosport.
Alan Permane, Racing Director RB F1 Team, Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, RB F1 Team
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“It’s humbling that they believe in my capabilities and potential to guide this team. I extend my gratitude to the senior management at Red Bull Austria, Oliver Mintzlaff and Helmut Marko, and, naturally, to Laurent for endorsing me, pushing me ahead, and demonstrating his faith in me. It has been a remarkable week.”
Permane had a mere fortnight to settle into his new position before the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Nevertheless, he believes the robust structure put in place by Mekies and CEO Peter Bayer, which has enabled Racing Bulls to evolve into a more formidable midfield contender, means there’s no immediate need for radical changes.
“The immediate strategy is to maintain the existing course,” he clarified. “Laurent and Peter have steered this team exceptionally well over the past year and a half, resulting in increased competitiveness. My intention is to maintain that momentum and ensure the team continues its upward trajectory.
“This is a fantastic team, and I’m aware that the senior figures at Red Bull are highly satisfied with its operations and our level of competition. Our objective is to lead the midfield pack, a battle we’re actively engaged in, and we’ll persist in this pursuit throughout the year.
“From my vantage point, it will undoubtedly entail more travel. I’m mainly stationed in Milton Keynes. In my previous capacity as racing director, I did spend some time in Italy. However, it will now be necessary for me to divide my time between both locations, with potentially more focus on the Faenza facility, which houses the majority of the team.”
A substantial undertaking ahead
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Permane feels his considerable experience as a sporting director provides him with a solid foundation to assume the top position. Nevertheless, he doesn’t underestimate the difficulty of transitioning from leading a trackside team to overseeing two factories housing over 700 individuals.
“I believe the role of sporting director equips you with a decent understanding,” he explained. “It’s a significantly larger role, naturally. As a sporting director, you oversee a group of 60 to 70 individuals. You participate in FIA committees. You collaborate with the FIA, race stewards, handling penalties, protests, and similar issues. Thus, you gain a valuable grounding and basis to take on this job, but it is certainly a far more expansive role.
“There will be several new aspects, but I’m completely prepared to embrace it, and I’m confident I’ll excel in this position.”
Racing Bulls won’t be appointing a direct replacement for the racing director’s role at present. Instead, chief race engineer Mattia Spini will assume additional responsibilities. “We won’t be filling the position immediately; there will be no sudden changes,” Permane stated.
“Mattia will be stepping up, and he is a superb chief race engineer with a strong desire to contribute further, and he definitely possesses the skills to do so. Undoubtedly, I will be more engaged in that facet of the business compared to Laurent, particularly initially, to ensure a seamless transition. However, I have no concerns in that regard. The trackside teams in Milton Keynes and Faenza are exceptionally strong.”
Assistance from the racing community
In response to the news, Sauber chief Jonathan Wheatley shared an image of himself and Permane celebrating their 1995 championship triumph with Michael Schumacher in the Benetton garage, raising a glass of champagne.
Permane and Wheatley became close friends during their time at the team, and by a twist of fate, they will now be competitors as two of F1’s 11 team principals.
