Following the shock announcement of Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull Racing, the Formula 1 world has been rocked by a wave of speculation and analysis. In the midst of this major shake-up, Laurent Mekies—former Ferrari sporting director and most recently team principal of Visa Cash App RB—has officially stepped in as the new Team Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Red Bull Racing, based in Milton Keynes.
The sudden leadership change has placed the spotlight squarely on Mekies, a seasoned motorsport professional with deep experience across multiple key roles in Formula 1. While the media whirlwind continues to swirl around Red Bull, many are now asking whether Mekies’ background—particularly his years at Scuderia Ferrari—can make the difference during this pivotal moment for the team.
A long journey to the top
Laurent Mekies brings with him an impressive résumé built over decades in Formula 1. He began his F1 career as Chief Race Engineer at Toro Rosso (now Visa Cash App RB), where he worked from 2006 to 2014. He then moved to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), where he served as Safety Director and later Deputy Race Director, gaining vital experience in regulatory and sporting governance. In 2018, he returned to the paddock as Ferrari’s Sporting Director, where he remained until taking over at Visa Cash App RB as Team Principal in 2024.
Now, Mekies finds himself at the helm of one of the most dominant teams in modern F1 history. According to former Formula 1 driver Sébastien Buemi, who drove for Toro Rosso between 2009 and 2011, Mekies’ blend of technical knowledge and organizational familiarity makes him a strong fit for the Red Bull role.
Speaking to RacingNews365, Buemi reflected on his time working alongside Mekies and outlined what sets him apart: “Yes, [Laurent] was Chief Race Engineer at Toro Rosso when I was there, so I know him quite well. I think he’s a really good guy. He’s been part of the Red Bull family for a long time—before he went to the FIA and then Ferrari, he was at Toro Rosso for several years. Now he’s back. First as Team Principal of Visa Cash App RB, and now with Red Bull Racing. He knows the Red Bull world very well.”
A different leadership style
Sébastien Buemi also noted a fundamental contrast between Laurent Mekies and his predecessor Christian Horner. While Horner is widely known for his strong political skills and leadership in building Red Bull Racing into a powerhouse since joining in 2005, Mekies brings a more technical and methodical approach, rooted in engineering.
“Laurent is definitely an engineer—he’s technically very solid,” Buemi explained. “Of course, Christian was politically very strong and helped grow the team massively. I don’t know how many people worked at Red Bull when he arrived, but now there are more than 1,500 people involved. The scale is huge.”
Despite the challenge of stepping into such large shoes, Buemi expressed confidence that Mekies is equipped for the role, thanks in part to his time at Ferrari. “Laurent has already experienced what it’s like to be in a big team. He’s been at Ferrari—that’s a massive organization. So I think he knows exactly what to expect.”
Laurent Mekies’ Ferrari experience: an asset for Red Bull
Having spent several seasons at Maranello during a period of significant transformation, Laurent Mekies gained insight into the pressures, expectations, and internal dynamics that come with managing a top-tier Formula 1 team. That experience could prove invaluable now, as Red Bull enters a new chapter without Horner.
At Ferrari, Laurent Mekies worked closely with engineers, drivers, and management during a time when the team was undergoing leadership changes and performance overhauls. He became known for his ability to balance technical understanding with strategic thinking—a trait that could help him successfully lead Red Bull through this transitional phase.
As the 2025 season continues, all eyes will be on how Laurent Mekies handles this new challenge. The Red Bull Racing organization remains a well-oiled machine, but a leadership transition at this level always carries risk. If Mekies can combine the discipline and insight gained from Ferrari with his familiarity with the Red Bull environment, he may well steer the team successfully into its next era.
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