Red Bull has officially announced that Laurent Mekies, the new team principal, will have a more limited role compared to his predecessor, Christian Horner. Mekies takes over leadership of the Formula 1 team following Horner’s departure, which was revealed by the main Red Bull company last week.
While no public reasons have been provided for the sudden change in management by either the team or its parent company, long-time advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that various factors, particularly the team’s declining performance, played a significant role in the decision.
According to Marko, the decision to remove Horner was made by Red Bull’s chief executive of corporate projects, Oliver Mintzlaff. The announcement was made to Horner after the Silverstone race in London, where he was thanked for his 20-year tenure and eight World Championship titles. The primary reason cited for the change was the team’s performance not meeting expectations.
Horner’s position had been under scrutiny for some time, with Red Bull chiefs in Austria losing confidence in him. A pivotal shift occurred when majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya withdrew his support for Horner, leading to the change in leadership.
Although Mekies will hold both team principal and chief executive titles, Marko clarified that his responsibilities will be significantly reduced compared to Horner’s broad authority. Mekies has emphasized that retaining star driver Max Verstappen is his top priority amid rumors linking him to Mercedes, especially following Horner’s exit.
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The focus for the new leadership at Red Bull is on enhancing competitiveness and appeal to persuade Verstappen to stay. Mekies expressed confidence that providing Verstappen with a fast car is crucial, as it will ultimately influence his decision to remain with the team.
