Red Bull have implemented wholesale changes in the leadership of both their F1 teams, sparked by the sacking of Christian Horner.
It means all eyes will be on the 51-year-old’s replacement at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. Laurent Mekies will step up as Red Bull team principal and CEO, having been Racing Bulls boss since the start of last season.
The Frenchman has a mammoth task on his hands at the Milton Keynes outfit. Martin Brundle claims Horner didn’t know why he was sacked, but Red Bull’s lack of performance in 2025 may have the answer, as they sit 288 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship.
Position Constructors’ Standings PointsPts 1 460 2 222 3 210 4 172 5 59 6 41 7 36 8 36 9 29 10 19
Max Verstappen considers himself out of the title picture, having been frustrated by the RB21 and its lack of improvements throughout the season. His teammate has fared far worse, as Yuki Tsunoda has finished last in back-to-back races and is under threat of losing his seat.
F1 fans have begged Mekies to save Tsunoda and help him rebuild his confidence. The Frenchman knows him well from his spell at Racing Bulls, where he had led the Faenza outfit to take steps forward in progression.
Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images‘Senior’ Red Bull figures have been ‘extremely happy’ with Racing Bulls in 2025 under Laurent Mekies
Finishing eighth with 46 points in 2024, Racing Bulls have put in some impressive performances this season, with Isack Hadjar making regular Q3 appearances and scoring points.
Tsunoda had been showing strong pace in the VCARB-02 in the opening two races, which is a much more driver-friendly car than the RB21. After being demoted by Red Bull, Liam Lawson has been improving his results with the sister team, but his teammate has had the upper hand.
F1 fans think Hadjar has been the most impressive driver of 2025 thus far, and a key part of that has been his team and the way Mekies has guided them in recent months. Speaking via Autosport, his replacement, Alan Permane, says Red Bull have been ‘extremely happy’ with the Faenza outfit.
CategoryIsack HadjarLiam Lawson2025 points2112Grand Prix results82Grand Prix qualifying82Grand Prix wins00Grand Prix poles00Grand Prix podiums00Best finish6th6thRetirements10Retirements (classified finish)00Fastest laps00Grand Prix points finishes42Sprint results01Sprint Qualifying10Sprint wins00Sprint poles00Sprint podiums00The 2025 F1 teammate head-to-head battle of Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson
“Well, the plan of action is to keep things as they are,” said Permane, highlighting his plan for Racing Bulls as he steps up as team principal.
“Laurent and Peter have done a fantastic job with this team over the last 18 months, leading to a surge in competitiveness. And my plan is to keep that running, keep the team on the same trajectory as it’s been on.
“It’s a great team and I know that the senior Red Bull guys are extremely happy with the way the team is being run. They’re very happy with our competitiveness. The target is to be top of the midfield, and we are certainly in a battle for that and we’ll continue that fight throughout this year.
“From my side, it’s certainly going to mean some more travel. I’m predominantly based in Milton Keynes. In my previous role as racing director, I did spend some time in Italy, but it will no doubt mean I will split my time between the two sites. Probably a little bit more on the Faenza side, where that larger part of the team is.”
READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation
Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty ImagesAlan Permane has work to do to reach his target for 2025
At the halfway point of 2025, Racing Bulls sit seventh in the standings with 36 points. They look set to better their 2024 campaign, but they face serious competition in the midfield.
Sauber have made drastic improvements to the C45, with Nico Hülkenberg’s maiden F1 podium at Silverstone propelling them to sixth. Aston Martin are beginning to score points frequently, while Williams can still pose a threat despite a recent dip in performance.
Permane is vastly experienced in F1, having had multiple roles in Enstone in F1 under the Benetton, Renault, Lotus and Alpine names since 1989 up until his dismissal in 2023. However, this is the first time he has been a team principal, which has sparked some concern.
Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Horner’s sacking will ‘hurt’ Racing Bulls as they have lost Mekies, who was making significant progress. It is up to Permane to keep things running smoothly and ensure the change does not affect Lawson and Hadjar in any way.