New Red Bull leader Laurent Mekies expressed that it feels “a bit unreal” to take over from Christian Horner, highlighting the challenges ahead for him and the team.
Horner’s sudden dismissal on Wednesday after two decades marked the end of one of the most successful periods any team principal has had in the sport.
Mekies moved up from the junior team, Racing Bulls, just 18 months after joining from Ferrari as team principal.
“My first thoughts are with Christian,” Mekies shared during a filming day at Silverstone this week. “It still feels a bit unreal to be here without him. It’s hard to fully appreciate how much this team achieved under Christian’s leadership for 20 years.
“I met him 20 years ago when he was the youngest team principal in Formula 1. It’s amazing to see how he transformed this place into what it is today, along with all the titles and wins along the way.”
Mekies starts his role at Red Bull during an exciting time.
In the beginning, he will focus on the future of four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen’s contract includes terms that let him leave before 2028 if he ranks lower than third in the championship by the summer break.
While this outcome seems less likely with only two races remaining, the chance of Verstappen departing for either 2026 or 2027 is quite possible.
Red Bull also faces uncertainty about its long-term performance on the track.
Next season brings a significant change in aerodynamics and engines. Red Bull will end its partnership with Honda and begin making its own engines at its factory in Milton Keynes, marking a historic moment for the team.
The team has quickly lowered expectations about how competitive they will be in 2026.
Mekies suggested that a tough journey lies ahead.
“Our main goal is to ensure that all the talented individuals here have what they need to perform at their highest level, because they are already the best. We will concentrate on that and make sure the Red Bull energy flows throughout the team,” he stated.
“At the same time, we recognize the challenge in front of us. Formula 1 is likely to face its biggest regulatory challenge ever, and it holds a special significance for Red Bull since we are using our own power units. It’s going to be a huge challenge, and everyone will need to work together to tackle it.”
Regarding his approach during his first weeks on the job, Mekies mentioned: “I want to discover the magic; I want to meet the men and women who create that magic behind the scenes.
“The next few weeks will focus on meeting as many of our team members as possible, listening to them, and trying to understand this amazing machine known as Red Bull Formula 1 so I can find ways to contribute and provide support.”
