In a surprising move, Red Bull has appointed Laurent Mekies as their new team principal following the dismissal of Christian Horner. Mekies, who previously led the Racing Bulls, Red Bull's junior team, brings a wealth of experience from his 20-year journey in Formula 1.

A Storied Career in F1

Born in Tours, France, in 1977, Mekies studied mechanical engineering at ESTACA in Paris and completed a master's degree at Loughborough. He entered F1 with Arrows in 2001 and later joined Minardi. When Red Bull acquired Minardi and rebranded it as Toro Rosso, Mekies stayed on, eventually becoming head of vehicle performance. He played a crucial role in Sebastian Vettel's fairytale victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

Contributions to Safety and Ferrari

In 2014, Mekies joined the FIA as safety director, where he was instrumental in developing the Halo cockpit protection device. His move to Ferrari in 2018 was controversial due to the lack of gardening leave, but he quickly rose through the ranks to become deputy team principal and racing director, providing stability during a volatile period for the Scuderia.

Leading Racing Bulls

In 2024, Mekies took over as team boss of the renamed Racing Bulls, working alongside CEO Peter Bayer to redefine the team's identity. One of the most notable episodes of his tenure was the mid-season departure of Daniel Ricciardo, which Mekies acknowledged could have been handled better.

Challenges Ahead

Now, Mekies faces the daunting task of guiding Red Bull through the post-Horner era and keeping the team competitive amidst upcoming rule changes. One of his primary objectives is to convince Max Verstappen to stay with Red Bull, despite the potential for performance dips as the team transitions to its own engine in 2026.

The Verstappen Factor

Verstappen, who has a contract until 2028, has clauses that allow him to leave if performance falters. Red Bull's decision to part with Horner may be an attempt to reassure Verstappen of the team's commitment to success. Whether this will be enough to keep the reigning champion remains to be seen.

As Mekies steps into one of the most scrutinized roles in world sport, the F1 community will be watching closely to see if he can maintain Red Bull's dominance and secure Verstappen's future with the team.