Red Bull Begins Post-Horner Era with Mekies Leading Belgian GP Sprint

Red Bull Racing is entering a new era following the abrupt sacking of Christian Horner, who led the team for 20 years and secured eight world championships. The decision, made by Red Bull GmbH CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and other top executives, was attributed to a decline in team performance rather than internal conflicts involving Max Verstappen's camp. Laurent Mekies has taken over as team principal and faces immediate challenges including managing the team's performance slump, preparing for substantial 2026 rule changes, and addressing struggles of Verstappen’s teammates like Yuki Tsunoda. Max Verstappen, while calling Horner like a 'second family,' remains hopeful about his future with Red Bull but acknowledged the unpredictability of life amid rumors of talks with Mercedes. The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps marks Mekies’ first race leading Red Bull, with the team currently fourth in the constructors' standings and Verstappen third in drivers' points behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, whose intra-team rivalry adds intrigue to the championship. Mekies and the team are focused on pushing forward under new leadership, with Spa being a challenging and classic circuit that could be pivotal in the season's trajectory.