Laurent Mekies is the first time they’ve been revealed since taking over the boss of Red Bull’s new F1 team.
Taken from Christian Horner, who was banished during the British Grand Prix era, Makies faced the first grill from the media on Red Bull’s hot seat as CEO and team principal.
Speaking to the media on Friday at Crash.Net’s Belgian Grand Prix on Earth, Mekies spoke at length about his new role and provided the first hints of his important priorities…
Making Max Verstappen’s decision “easy”
Ahead of the weekend, Max Verstappen said that Horner’s plunder has nothing to do with his decision to make about his future, and the four-time world champion is tied to a massive switch to Mercedes.
Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, but there is a mechanism included in the current transaction (the details of which have not been published), and if certain performance-related conditions are not met, he can terminate early.
With Mekies, it’s easy to convince Verstappen. Get him a quick and competitive car. He will remain placed.
“In terms of priorities, I’m sure Max wants a fast car,” Mekies said. “I am sure if I get him a fast car, I have cancelled all the other considerations.
“So, really, to make that a simple call from Max, aiming to get to know the team as quickly as possible, to see how we can support them and how we can build the next step in competitiveness and get a fast car.”
Empowering Red Bull’s workforce
I believe Meki has the depth strength required for Red Bull
Red Bull has struggled with performance and may have lost several key members of its staff over the past year, but Mekie has insisted on the strength of the depth that exists within the team.
Mekies is determined to quiet the noise surrounding the team and focus on Red Bull’s best efforts. He’s sure the team has the right people to turn things around.
“All I’ve seen over the last two weeks is extraordinary talent, an incredible racing spirit,” Mekies said. “These guys come out on the edge in every way.
“There is no single department that sees the feeling of lying down or resting. They are really at war in the rightful sense of the word.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure all these women and men have everything they need to express themselves at best.
“You’re not seeing any weaknesses. You see a lot of desire to get that Red Bull energy, just to focus on the race, to get that Red Bull energy, perhaps to reduce external noise.
“We rely on the incredible strengths that this team has. Everyone is stepping up. It’s certainly an opportunity to look for more empowerment for our people.
“Every time we discuss, we talk about how strong you have in this team, and that’s what you found.
“We certainly look at this phase as a way to step up incredible people and build the next competitive advantage in the next regulatory phase.”
He added:
“It’s about how engaged your people are, how motivated they are, how much they trust each other, and how much they help each other.”
Make the basics right
Red Bull’s Pitwall Meki
Although Red Bull has not publicly provided reasons for Horner’s firing, it has been widely reported that there was an internal struggle for power. Horner’s long-standing grip against the Red Bull race had been slipping for a while, so he finally lost it.
So, did Red Bull choose Mekies as Horner’s successor, as he’s happy to focus solely on the race side of the organization, rather than wanting control over a wider part of the company?
Mekies admits that in the early stages of the Postwarner era it is “probably a bit earlier to talk about structure” within Red Bull, but it is clear that the fundamental desire for ontrack excellence is the biggest motivation for the French.
“But certainly, one of the things that our priorities are so high is making sure we can focus on the right things and avoid bottlenecks in the company at all levels,” he said.
“That spirit is about seeing what needs to be done next. Certainly, F1 comes first. There’s chassis operation, power unit operation. That’s the main focus.
“It’s a racing team. The people on the team love racing. That’s what they’re here, and that’s where it’s going to be where the main focus is.”