Red Bull Racing has released the following statements regarding d…

Red Bull Racing has released the following statements regarding d…

 

 

 

Red Bull Racing has recently undergone significant changes at the leadership level, with the most notable being the departure of Christian Horner as Team Principal and CEO. This marks the first time in 20 years that the team has changed its top director.

 

In a statement from Red Bull GmbH, Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s chief executive for corporate projects and investments, thanked Horner for his “exceptional work over the last 20 years,” acknowledging his instrumental role in establishing Red Bull Racing as a successful F1 team. Horner himself released a statement via social media, expressing that it was “with a heavy heart” he said goodbye to the team he “absolutely loved,” and that he left with “immense pride” in their collective accomplishments.

 

Laurent Mekies, previously the team principal of Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri/Toro Rosso), has been appointed as Horner’s replacement. Mekies brings extensive experience in F1, having worked as a race engineer with Minardi, within the FIA as safety director, and as sporting director at Ferrari. Alan Permane has been promoted to team principal at Racing Bulls to fill Mekies’ former role.

 

These leadership changes come amidst a challenging period for Red Bull. Speculation surrounds Max Verstappen’s future with the team, particularly with new technical regulations set for 2026 and the team’s current performance seeing them fourth in the constructors’ standings. Verstappen has reportedly expressed frustration with the car’s limitations, and there are rumors of potential talks with Mercedes. Helmut Marko, a Red Bull advisor, has also issued a statement reaffirming the team’s commitment to helping Verstappen secure a fifth consecutive drivers’ title, despite the current championship standing where Verstappen trails McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

 

The departure of Horner also follows an internal investigation into misconduct allegations made against him, which were dismissed after an appeal. Despite being cleared, the saga has been a prominent storyline surrounding the team. Red Bull is also preparing to develop its own engines in partnership with Ford for the 2026 regulations, a project that Horner had been leading.