Laurent Mekies is taking charge of Red Bull for the first time at the Belgian Grand Prix, stepping into his most high-profile role yet in Formula 1.
Red Bull are not only one of the sport’s biggest teams but also a global brand, and Mekies is replacing one of F1’s most recognisable figures. Christian Horner was the longest-serving team principal in the paddock, and only Fernando Alonso was on the grid when he took over.
The French engineer was a logical choice to step up from Racing Bulls, having also spent time at Ferrari and within the FIA. Still, this marks his first stint as the public face of a major F1 outfit.
He won’t have much immediate influence over results. The development schedule for this year is already set, and work on 2026 is well underway. It’ll likely be around this time next season before Red Bull can fully evaluate how Mekies has settled into the job.
Laurent Mekies is running Red Bull meetings that Christian Horner didn’t bother with
According to The Race, it took Mekies just one day to start making a good impression. He was in early on Friday, while Horner tended to arrive later in the day.
He’s well aware of how much he needs to learn, but that was also his approach at Racing Bulls. More importantly, he set up meetings with different departments while his drivers were busy with media duties.
These pre-weekend conversations “did not happen previously”. Mekies is clearly eager to gather as much information as possible, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by those around him.
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Red Bull have had issues in practice sessions all season long, and their new hire has already made changes to the simulator programme in an effort to address the problem.
Mekies will need more than that if he’s going to impress Max Verstappen, as the Dutchman still hasn’t committed himself beyond 2026.
Mekies does not have exactly the same role as Horner
Helmut Marko has said that Mekies’ responsibilities are more focused than Horner’s were, which could mean a less hectic schedule for the new team principal. The team had started to feel that their previous structure wasn’t working as well as it should.
At the moment, Red Bull are fourth in the constructors’ standings, and McLaren are on pace to have three times as many points by the end of the year.
Oliver Mintzlaff, who played a key role in Horner’s departure, is expected to be at Spa on Friday. However, according to The Race, he has no plans to address the media during his visit.
This decision is likely to add further frustration within the team. Already unhappy with how Horner’s exit was handled, some members won’t appreciate continued silence from management.
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