Laurent Mekies has stepped into the Belgian Grand Prix to paddock for his first weekend as the team principal of Red Bull. It’s by far the most prominent position he’s taken on within Formula 1.
Red Bull are one of the sport’s ‘big four’, but more than that, Mekies succeeds one of the most recognisable figures outside an F1 cockpit. Horner was the longest-serving team principal in the sport, and, of the current drivers, only Fernando Alonso was racing when he joined.
Mekies was a natural successor given that he worked for sister team Racing Bulls. He’s also held posts at Ferrari and the FIA, but he’s the leading spokesman for an F1 powerhouse for the first time.
Photo by Clive Rose – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
His ability to impact the team’s on-track fortunes will be limited in the short term. Development plans for the rest of the year are already in place, and the 2026 project will be advanced too – so Red Bull will likely withhold judgement on the Frenchman’s performance until around this time next year.
Laurent Mekies is holding the kind of Red Bull meetings Christian Horner shunned
According to The Race, Mekies has only needed one day to make a positive impression. He arrived at Spa earlier on Friday, whereas Horner would typically walk through the paddock gates later in the day.
He knows how much he has to learn, but this was also the approach Mekies took at Racing Bulls. More importantly, he scheduled meetings with various ‘different departments’ as his drivers conducted their media day duties.
These kind of pre-weekend conversations ‘did not happen previously’. Mekies is ‘very keen’ to gather as much information as possible, something his new colleagues have already noticed.
Red Bull have struggled in practice all season, and their new hire has modified their simulator programme to try and address this issue.
In addition to the shareholders, it’s most important that he impresses Max Verstappen. The Dutchman still hasn’t committed to racing for the team in 2026.
Helmut Marko says Mekies has taken on a smaller remit than Horner, which may give him a slightly quieter schedule. The team felt that their previous model was beginning to malfunction.
Indeed, at the halfway point of the season, they sit fourth in the constructors’ championship. At the current rate, it won’t be long before leaders McLaren have tripled their points tally.
Position Constructors’ Standings PointsPts 1 460 2 222 3 210 4 172
Instrumental in the decision to sack Horner, Red Bull’s Austrian managing director Oliver Mintzlaff will be in the paddock on Friday. However, The Race’s report says he doesn’t intend to speak to the media.
Thus, secrecy will remain over the team’s motives. Some Red Bull are dissatisfied with the handling of Horner’s departure.