Red Bull Racing’s new CEO Laurent Mekies: Engineering mindset and team-based leadership

Staff Reporter | PNN

Formula One has begun a new chapter under Red Bull Racing’s new CEO, Laurent Mekies. Four months ago, Mekies was only Head of Racing. In July, he suddenly replaced former CEO Christian Horner to take on the role of CEO.

Mekies’ journey is unique. While Horner focused on media and popularity, Mekies has extensive experience in engineering and technology. His focus extends beyond aerodynamics or tire performance to optimizing workflows and reducing complexity.

To improve performance, he emphasizes partnerships with technology and safety firms, such as cybersecurity company 1Password, to streamline processes like logging into complex systems across track, factory, simulator, and wind tunnel operations.

The 48-year-old Mekies has experience across many facets of Formula One, starting with engineering education in Paris and Loughborough University. He began in Formula 3 in 2000, joined the British Arrows team in 2001, and worked as a race engineer in Minardi, Italy, in 2003, building his technical and strategic expertise.

Mekies prioritizes the team over personal credit. After Max Verstappen’s win at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, he told journalists, “I contributed nothing. It’s entirely the team’s achievement.”

His leadership focuses on team morale and sustaining commitment. Red Bull’s mid-season development decisions and the creation of their own power unit with Ford are examples of calculated but bold strategies.

Mekies emphasizes a race-by-race approach, keeping team focus intact rather than chasing numbers. Under his leadership, Red Bull combines technology, skill, and team strength, energizing Formula One fans worldwide.