Laurent and I share the same birthday. Although I am older (arguably younger looking and far more immature) than the Frenchman who has been appointed the role of Christian Horner’s successor. Born on April 28, 1977, in Tours, France, Laurent Mekies grew up with a fascination for machines and speed. He pursued mechanical engineering studies at École Supérieure des Techniques Aéronautiques et de Construction Automobile, followed by a master’s at Loughborough University. A devoted family man, he maintains a low‑key home life, valuing stability and time with loved ones… a counterbalance to the high‑pressure environment of Formula 1.
Mekies entered Formula 1 in 2001 with Arrows, then moved to Minardi (later Toro Rosso) in 2002. Over 12 years at Toro Rosso, he climbed through the technical ranks—chief engineer, head of vehicle performance—contributing to Sebastian Vettel’s 2008 victory. He then served the FIA (2014–18) as Safety Director and Deputy Race Director, playing a key role in safety improvements like the Halo. His big move, and one which arguably set him up for the role he now holds, came shortly thereafter. Mekies then joined Ferrari as Sporting Director and later Racing Director (2021–23), navigating intense strategic and regulatory environments . Seeking a leadership role, he moved to Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) as Team Principal in early 2024. There he led the team through a significant transformation; tightening operations, enhancing resource management, and forging a distinctive identity for the junior outfit (and being obedient to RedBull mothership demands).
He is known for his collaborative leadership style: leveraging partnerships across engineering, operations, and personnel, notably working closely with his leadership to define clear responsibilities and nurture a strong team culture.
Today (July 9, 2025), RedBull removed Christian Horner and appointed Mekies as CEO and Team Principal, effective immediately. His comprehensive experience, technical depth, operational rigor, and strategic insight, make him uniquely suited to lead a top-tier operation like RBR. His success integrating young drivers into Racing Bulls demonstrates an ability to accelerate talent development, which is a key asset for Red Bull under pressure to maintain high performance with an eye on the future (of a post Verstappen era).
Christian Horner spent 20 years at Red Bull, leading them to multiple Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles. Under Horner, RedBull forged a championship dynasty powered by Sebastian Vettel, then Max Verstappen and Adrian Newey. Mekies inherits high expectations and the difficult challenge of sustaining an elite performance culture (and retaining the services of Max Verstappen) even as the team currently lags behind rivals such as McLaren and Mercedes and Ferrari.
Mekies is immediately challenged with many tasks. He steps out his role at VCARB where he’s been doing a stellar job with two rookie drivers and jumps into the frying pan at RedBull. He’ll be recovering from a mid‑season dip at the parent team, where Red Bull fourth in the standings, Mekies must quickly pinpoint performance deficits to close the deficit. He’ll have to earn the trust of F1 personnel and drivers, while trying to gain support within Red Bull’s ecosystem, Mekies must solidify his authority inside a high‑pressure environment accustomed to Horner’s leadership. Managing the Verstappen factor (Max has already voiced frustration with this year’s car), Mekies must balance empowering his lead driver with steering the team’s broader development direction. He will need to be seen as making steps to preserving the Red Bull culture. Mekies will need to maintain the team’s aggressive, pioneering DNA while introducing his more methodical, detail‑driven approach from Ferrari and the FIA.
Laurent Mekies brings engineering excellence, safety-minded decision-making, and a steady but collaborative leadership style—qualities that make him a strong fit to lead Red Bull forward. However, he steps into Horner’s considerable legacy with immense pressure—to revitalize the current campaign, manage the expectations of Verstappen and the board, and ensure Red Bull Racing remains at the pinnacle of Formula 1. His first few races at the helm will be pivotal, not just for championship aspirations but also to affirm his vision for life after Horner, and to carry the Red Bull juggernaut into its next chapter… or open the door to its exit from F1 altogether.
