Laurent Mekies Succeeds Christian Horner as Red Bull CEO Amid Team Transition

Laurent Mekies has taken over as Red Bull Racing's team principal and CEO, succeeding Christian Horner, who was dismissed after 20 years leading the team to 14 titles. Mekies, formerly Ferrari's sporting director and team principal at Red Bull's sister team Racing Bulls, revealed that Horner was the first to contact him with support following the transition. Despite Horner's departure surprising many and no official reason given, Mekies praised Horner's legacy and described the period immediately after the change as a difficult adjustment for the team. Motorsport analyst Martin Brundle noted that under Mekies, Red Bull's approach may shift away from Horner's politically active style to a more laid-back leadership. Mekies emphasized his intention to empower the team's personnel and leverage their strengths to regain competitiveness for upcoming regulations. While Mekies did not receive an explanation from Red Bull management for Horner's dismissal, he expressed loyalty to the brand and respect for Horner's contributions.