Who Slept Best Last Night? Laurent Mekies

Laurent Mekies Begins to Define a New Red Bull Racing Era

Different times require different leaders. Red Bull Racing’s decision to part ways with Christian Horner and eventually Helmut Marko was a bold move after the pair helped build the team from the ground up into a championship-winning force.

That change may have been necessary because Red Bull had become increasingly defined by internal politics, power struggles and the departure of key personnel. Rebuilding a Formula 1 team requires a different type of leader from the person who originally assembled it.

Laurent Mekies could hardly be more different from Red Bull’s former power brokers. Calm, diplomatic, rational and seemingly always smiling, the Frenchman presents a markedly different public face for Red Bull Racing. That may be an overly simple assessment of a leader who would need to be understood through day-to-day collaboration, but the team is beginning to reveal the culture Mekies wants to create.

Red Bull’s 2026 Progress Is Becoming More Visible

When Red Bull began winning again during the second half of last year, Mekies was frequently asked how much he had personally contributed to the improvement after the team’s difficult start to the season. His answer was often “zero”, or close to it, because he had not been in the role long enough to have a significant influence.

That response could be interpreted as evidence of a pleasant personality or as the product of careful media training. Either way, nobody asks Mekies that question in quite the same way anymore.

It remains impossible to quantify exactly how much of Red Bull’s progress in 2026 is down to Mekies. The team is clearly in a better position than it was at the start of the season, however, and it is reasonable to suggest that Red Bull is at least keeping pace with McLaren in the development race, even if it is not leading it.

Red Bull’s latest upgrade delivered the team’s first double podium of the season in Baku. Max Verstappen missed victory by only 0.196 seconds, representing significant progress compared with the positions of Verstappen and Isack Hadjar in China and Japan. There had been indications of improvement since Red Bull introduced its Austria package: whenever Verstappen has finished a grand prix during that period, he has stood on the podium. Despite two non-finishes, he has scored only five points fewer than Lando Norris over the same stretch.

Red Bull is still waiting for its first victory of the 2026 season, and the team has unresolved problems, including mysterious car behaviours that Verstappen has discussed openly. Even without a trophy, Mekies has already achieved several important personal successes.

Keeping Max Verstappen and Supporting Isack Hadjar

Retaining Verstappen was the most obvious of those achievements. Financial terms, including a possible increase in the number of zeroes in a new contract, may have played a role. But only a few months earlier, Verstappen had been openly discussing how long he wanted to continue in Formula 1, rather than simply considering which team he wanted to drive for.

Mekies has therefore secured Red Bull’s most important asset for longer. Verstappen presumably would not have committed without believing that Red Bull could return to regular victories, and sustaining that belief is a central part of Mekies’ responsibility.

Hadjar’s podium in Baku may provide the clearest example yet of the leadership approach being developed at Red Bull. Hadjar returned from injury with the reassurance of a new Red Bull contract for 2027. By the time he arrived at Baku’s press conference on Wednesday, his future was already settled and he could focus on the positive aspects of his return.

After the race, Mekies said the timing of the announcement was deliberate. Red Bull wanted to reduce the pressure on Hadjar and demonstrate the team’s trust in him. That decision was particularly significant given the historically intense pressure associated with Red Bull’s second seat.

Hadjar later acknowledged that he had sustained his injury while boxing. Red Bull could have waited to evaluate his performance after his comeback before making a commitment. Instead, the team effectively communicated that it trusted him, considered him ready for the seat and believed he had already proved enough. Hadjar deliberately adopted a cautious approach in Baku, initially prioritising avoiding mistakes before gradually taking more risks and building confidence. He ultimately produced arguably the best race of his Formula 1 career.

How Red Bull’s Environment May Have Changed

The situation could have unfolded differently under Red Bull’s previous leadership. Hadjar might have returned with uncertainty surrounding his future after Liam Lawson performed well during his absence. Public discussion might have focused on the wisdom of boxing while under contract, and Hadjar could have felt compelled to prove himself immediately.

That is speculation, but Red Bull’s second seat has frequently created a damaging cycle in which an early mistake generates pressure, pressure leads to another mistake and the situation becomes progressively more difficult. In hindsight, giving Hadjar his contract before the Baku weekend appears to have been an effective decision.

Lawson’s second stint with Red Bull also looked markedly different from his first. The circumstances were not entirely dissimilar: he was again placed in an unfamiliar car for a limited number of races. This time, however, he appeared to be a different driver. It may simply be easier to perform when a driver does not feel an overwhelming need to prove everything in a single race, session or lap, and when there is no prospect of a senior figure calling at 6am to say the driver is useless.

That does not establish that Mekies is a better leader than Horner or Marko. Such a conclusion would be unreasonable given that Red Bull won almost everything available to win while Horner and Marko were in charge. Mekies still has a substantial amount to accomplish before he can claim even a fraction of their record.

There is no single correct way to lead a Formula 1 team. The events in Baku nonetheless offered another indication of what Red Bull Racing may look like under Laurent Mekies.

Christian Horner’s Legacy and the Ferrari Connection

Horner’s legacy has not disappeared as Mekies’ influence grows. Red Bull’s former team principal may have enjoyed watching his former team’s cars accelerate along Baku’s 2.2-kilometre straight faster than almost anything else.

Building Red Bull Powertrains in Milton Keynes was one of Horner’s biggest gambles. Mekies now describes the resulting power unit as “fantastic”, while the FIA’s current system has effectively identified it as the benchmark, despite the unusual nature of that system.

Horner’s name also appeared in comments from Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who acknowledged that Ferrari was “not working in perfect serenity” amid continuing speculation about his own future. Vasseur attempted to joke and laugh during his media session, but Horner had clearly irritated him with a recent interview with The Times. Annoying rival Formula 1 team principals was a role Horner appeared to enjoy.

The relationship between Mekies and Horner could yet produce another twist. During his years at Maranello, Mekies would presumably have wanted the Ferrari team principal role. He eventually left Ferrari without securing it, moved via Racing Bulls and became Red Bull’s leader instead. Horner, whose former role Mekies ultimately inherited, is now being linked with the Ferrari position that Mekies never obtained.

Why This Matters

Red Bull Racing’s transition illustrates how leadership priorities can change after a period of dominant success. Horner and Marko were central to building and driving the team through its most successful era, while Mekies faces the different task of stabilising and rebuilding an organisation affected by internal conflict and personnel departures.

The early evidence from 2026 is not yet a championship result, but it includes stronger development performance, Verstappen’s continued commitment and Hadjar’s successful return under reduced pressure. Red Bull still needs to resolve its car’s unexplained behaviours and secure its first win of the season, yet the team’s approach to its drivers suggests that Mekies is pursuing a culture based more heavily on reassurance and trust.

At the same time, the Red Bull Powertrains project shows that Horner’s strategic decisions continue to influence the team. The possibility of Horner being connected with Ferrari also links the two leadership eras and could create a further change in the Formula 1 power structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What has Laurent Mekies changed at Red Bull Racing?

Mekies has presented a calmer and more diplomatic leadership style while focusing on rebuilding the team’s culture. His approach has included maintaining Max Verstappen’s commitment and supporting Isack Hadjar with a 2027 contract before his return from injury.

How has Red Bull improved during the 2026 season?

Red Bull’s latest upgrade produced its first double podium of 2026 in Baku. Verstappen finished 0.196 seconds from victory, and since the introduction of the team’s Austria package, he has reached the podium whenever he has finished a grand prix.

Why was Isack Hadjar’s contract announced before the Baku race?

Laurent Mekies said Red Bull intentionally confirmed Hadjar’s 2027 contract before his comeback to remove pressure and show that the team trusted him. Hadjar then took a cautious approach before building confidence and delivering arguably the best race of his Formula 1 career.