The Newest Red Bull Principal: Laurent Mekies
Red Bull Racing has moved into a new era by appointing Laurent Mekies as Team Principal and CEO, effective July 9, 2025, after parting ways with Christian Horner. He had a dip in performance and internal tension. Mekies, a seasoned figure in Formula 1, brings a nearly 25-year career spanning roles at Arrows, Minardi, Toro Rosso, the FIA, Ferrari, and AlphaTauri, which is now Racing Bulls. He steps into Red Bull Racing at a key and shaking moment, fourth in the standings, facing 2026 regulation changes, and needing stable leadership.
Mekies began his Formula 1 journey in 2001 at Arrows, working on engine performance. He then moved to Minardi in 2003 as a race engineer for drivers like Mark Webber and Justin Wilson. When Red Bull purchased Minardi and rebranded it to Toro Rosso in 2006, Mekies stayed and shone quickly, serving as chief engineer and later Head of Vehicle Performance. He stayed with the team through to 2012, including playing a key technical role in Sebastian Vettel’s surprise 2008 Monza win.
In 2014, Mekies left the Red Bull family to join the FIA as Safety Director and later Deputy Race Director, working alongside the famous Charlie Whiting. He coordinated key safety and medical initiatives across both Formula 1 and junior series, an experience that would prove valuable during his later leadership roles. In September 2018, Mekies joined Scuderia Ferrari as Sporting Director and was promoted to Racing Director by 2021. At Ferrari, he managed track operations, pit-lane strategy, and performance optimization during a rebuilding phase. His contributions helped bring Ferrari back into competitive form, and he deeply participated in the Championship chase in the 2017 and 2018 seasons with Vettel again..
Mekies returned to the Red Bull network in early 2024 as principal of AlphaTauri, which had been renamed Racing Bulls. There, he oversaw the development of the in-house RB VCARB 01 chassis. He also built a high-performance environment that prepared drivers for Red Bull’s senior team, where both of his drivers in the 2024 season, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, and promoted to the senior team. His leadership earned respect internally, and he recommended Alan Permane as his successor, signaling a culture of continuity.
Now at Red Bull Racing, Mekies faces stiff challenges: reversing the team’s mid-season slump and preparing for a 2026 manufacturer engine era. In his first video appearance, he hailed the team as the world’s best and pledged to provide staff with what they need to excel. Mekies acknowledges that F1 is about to face “the biggest challenge of regulation in its history” and is prioritizing stability and performance. Mekies brings a rich resume to Red Bull: technical and leadership roles at Minardi and Toro Rosso, regulatory experience at the FIA, race operations with Ferrari, and junior-team leadership at Racing Bulls. He is now entrusted with steering a team undergoing critical transformation, both competitively and organizationally. As Red Bull races toward new regulations, Mekies' blend of engineering savvy, strategic insight, and calm leadership positions him to be the steady hand they need. His tenure will determine if Red Bull can reclaim top spot in Formula 1 history.
