Mekies<\/a> was a natural successor given that he worked for sister team Racing Bulls. He\u2019s also held posts at Ferrari and the FIA, but he\u2019s the leading spokesman for an F1 powerhouse for the first time.<\/p>\n His ability to impact the team\u2019s 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 \u2013 so Red Bull will likely withhold judgement on the Frenchman\u2019s performance until around this time next year.<\/p>\n Laurent Mekies is holding the kind of Red Bull meetings Christian Horner shunned<\/p>\n According to The Race<\/a>, Mekies has only needed one day to make a positive impression. He arrived at Spa earlier on Friday, whereas Horner<\/a> would typically walk through the paddock gates later in the day.<\/p>\n 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 \u2018different departments\u2019 as his drivers conducted their media day duties.<\/p>\n These kind of pre-weekend conversations \u2018did not happen previously\u2019. Mekies is \u2018very keen\u2019 to gather as much information as possible, something his new colleagues have already noticed.<\/p>\n Red Bull have struggled in practice all season<\/a>, and their new hire has modified their simulator programme to try and address this issue.<\/p>\n In addition to the shareholders, it\u2019s most important that he impresses Max Verstappen. The Dutchman still hasn\u2019t committed to racing for the team in 2026.<\/p>\n![\"Laurent](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2226781543-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Clive Rose \u2013 Formula 1\/Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n