By Nicole Powell
Laurent Mekies has taken the helm at Red Bull Racing as CEO and team principal, stepping into the roles vacated by Christian Horner following his sudden departure on Wednesday, July 9.
Mekies, who will lead the team through a dramatic transition, described his first day in the position as “unreal”, acknowledging the magnitude of both the opportunity and responsibility.
Honouring Horner’s legacy
Speaking during a day at Silverstone, Mekies paid tribute to Horner’s legacy:
“It would be impossible to underestimate the size of the achievement that this team has had under 20 years of Christian’s leadership,” he said, recalling his own introduction to Horner two decades ago.
Mekies also expressed personal gratitude, highlighting Horner’s role in bringing him back to the Red Bull fold two years earlier.
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Eyes firmly on the future
Despite acknowledging the emotional gravity of the change, Mekies made clear he is looking forward.
He praised Red Bull as “the very best people in the world at what they do”, and emphasised how his focus will be on ensuring the team has optimal conditions to succeed.
A leader with experience
Mekies comes into the role with an impressive resume – stints at Arrows, Toro Rosso, the FIA (where he helped implement the halo), and Ferrari as racing director – plus 18 months leading the junior Racing Bulls team.
He faces immediate challenges: Red Bull currently rank fourth in the Constructors’ standings this season, with new 2026 power-unit regulations on the horizon and growing uncertainty over Max Verstappen’s future.
Nonetheless, Mekies exudes confidence. “Together we will achieve great results, building on the incredible legacy left by Christian Horner,” he affirmed during his first statement as team boss.
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