Key Highlights
- Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has praised Red Bull Racing team chief Laurent Mekies for his composed leadership and role in steadying the Milton Keynes squad.
- Laurent Mekies stepped into the Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal role in July 2025 following Christian Horner’s departure, alongside earlier exits of figures like Adrian Newey, Helmut Marko, and Jonathan Wheatley.
- The leadership turnaround reached a pivotal milestone at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where four-time champion Max Verstappen captured his first victory of the season and the first win for Red Bull Powertrains.
Guenther Steiner Applauds Laurent Mekies for Red Bull Turnaround
Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has commended Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies for his calm approach and effective management, attributing the Milton Keynes squad’s recent recovery to his steady hand following Christian Horner’s exit. Laurent Mekies took over the dual role of Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal in July 2025. The transition arrived amid an era of major transitions for the outfit, coming in the wake of high-profile departures that included design mastermind Adrian Newey, senior advisor Helmut Marko, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley.
Steiner reflected on how Laurent Mekies navigated the intense pressures of the role during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast following the race at the Sepang International Circuit. Steiner highlighted Mekies’ demeanor and work ethic, stating:
“He inherited a team a little bit out of control,” Steiner said. “Good old Laurent just worked it out, always friendly, always with a smile, always polite.
“He never threw the toys out of the pram when Max Verstappen shouted, ‘This is not acceptable.’ He just worked along. Some people left, somebody said, ‘This team is going nowhere,’ all that stuff. Guess what? He brought it back.
“Thinking about what Laurent did and nobody noticed. Everybody just criticised, ‘Oh, Christian is gone…’ No, he came in, no ego involved, he just did a solid, good job. They won a race in quite a dominant fashion, so fair play to him.”
Navigating New Regulations and Red Bull Powertrains
In addition to reorganizing the team structure after multiple senior departures, Laurent Mekies was tasked with overseeing the technical adaptation to the 2026 regulations and introducing the brand’s in-house power units developed by Red Bull Powertrains in collaboration with Ford. Despite sitting fourth in the constructors’ championship standings, the outfit achieved a breakthrough at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen secured his first win of the campaign at the event, which also delivered the inaugural Grand Prix victory for the Red Bull Powertrains initiative. Addressing what makes Laurent Mekies particularly effective in managing such high-stakes transitions, Guenther Steiner pointed to the Frenchman’s extensive Formula 1 background and resilience against public scrutiny:
“It’s his experience because he worked everywhere and staying calm. He is never overreacting, always finding a way to address if there is a problem, and just shutting out the noise from outside, which is an art in itself because it gets on your nuts.
“Over the years, Laurent just learned, ‘I do the best I can. I don’t get disturbed by the noise from outside. I just do my job and if it works, fine, if it doesn’t work, let’s see what happens then.’
“He can go back on a lot of experience, he has done a lot of jobs in his life in F1.”
Why This Matters
Christian Horner’s exit in July 2025 marked the end of an era for Red Bull Racing, compounding the operational strain left by the exits of Adrian Newey, Helmut Marko, and Jonathan Wheatley. Managing such an extensive leadership overhaul alongside a fundamental technical reset—specifically the rollout of the Red Bull Powertrains-Ford engine partnership for 2026—presented substantial risks to the team’s competitiveness. Max Verstappen’s commanding victory demonstrates that despite resting fourth in the constructors’ standings, the operational foundation established under Laurent Mekies is capable of delivering race-winning performance under the new regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Laurent Mekies become Red Bull Racing team principal?
Laurent Mekies took over as Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal in July 2025, succeeding long-time chief Christian Horner.
What key milestone did Red Bull Racing achieve recently?
At the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia held at the Sepang International Circuit, Max Verstappen captured his first victory of the season, which also represented the maiden Formula 1 race win for the Red Bull Powertrains engine program.
Which key figures left Red Bull Racing prior to or alongside Christian Horner?
The team experienced significant personnel turnover in recent years, including the departures of Adrian Newey, Helmut Marko, and Jonathan Wheatley, before Christian Horner exited in 2025.
