Laurent Mekies expands on how it all came about with Red Bull Racing, his first impressions of the F1 team and differences he has seen plus more on future, etc.
Red Bull dropped the bomb after British GP when they announced the departure of Christian Horner and replaced him with Visa Cash App RB’s Mekies as new F1 team principal and CEO. It ended the Brit’s reign of 20 years as the shareholders decided to the pull the plug on the veteran.
The controversies and drop in performance eventually took the toll. Mekies not only had his couple of weeks at Milton Keynes, he had his first weekend with the Red Bull F1 team as well at Spa-Francorchamps. Facing the media, the Frenchman expanded on the call he received.
It was Helmut Marko and Oliver Mintzlaff, who shared the news. Mekies couldn’t believe if it was real. But he clarified that they didn’t share why Horner was dropped. The Frenchman has spoken with the Brit, though. He shared about the immediate impressions and where the F1 team stands.
He added about the differences he found between Red Bull and Visa Cash App RB so far with stress on team culture, as he answered about how he can improve the F1 team which has fallen behind McLaren. The Max Verstappen topic had its share of discussion too.
First impressions –
Mekies: “The first impression is that you get into the building – a building Jonathan knows very well – you get through the trophy room and how can you feel? You just feel honoured, privileged. It’s unbelievable achievements that the team have been getting the last 20 years. So that’s the first wow effect you get. And then, of course, what these two weeks have been about is really trying to meet as many people as possible from the team. There is no other way, I think, to try to get to know the team, to start to understand the strengths and the weaknesses, to understand how we will be able to eventually support. That’s what I’ve been doing the last two weeks, trying to meet as many of our people as possible. And the good news is it’s an incredible team. They didn’t win by luck or by mistakes. They won because of the accumulation of talents that there is in the buildings. Every small box you open and you look at how they go about a given topic or another thing, every time you say, “Wow, that’s really nice.” And that’s all coming from the people there at all levels that have been doing amazing jobs for all these years.
“Maybe that man [Wheatley] as well. So really, that’s how the first few weeks have been. For sure, the first 24 hours were a big adjustment because nobody was expecting it. The first few hours after the announcement were a surprise for everyone and certainly a digesting phase for everyone. What can I say after that? I’ve only been finding a huge amount of support from everyone. They just want to go racing. They are hugely respectful, and we all are, of the achievements that have been made under Christian’s leadership. Could I be hoping for more support, openness from the people I’ve been meeting these last two weeks? No. Everybody has been incredibly supportive, willing to open the door, willing to speak, to listen, to explain their limitations and strengths, how we go next about going back to the racetrack and fighting at an even higher level. That’s what I’ve found.”
Red Bull and Visa Cash App RB difference –
Mekies: “The short answer is no. I think it would be wrong to compare teams at this stage. But it’s fair to say that the game is changing when you try and fight for wins, when you’re trying to fight for championships, and how extreme you have to go in every single area to grab the last bit of performance. That means you need to make some very bold choices, very bold decisions. This is what you find in all these small boxes we were talking about before – how extreme the team goes about every single detail in order to eventually get that ultimate performance that you need for the sort of ambition the team has.”
How it all came about –
Mekies: “Well, it was not very different for me than it was for you, really, guys. I got a call a few hours before you guys were made aware. I got a call from Oliver [Mintzlaff] and Helmut [Marko], and they asked me if I would be interested to do the job. Obviously, it came out of the blue at that moment for me. I was actually in the UK at Racing Bulls and it came in a completely unexpected way. I actually asked them to think about it for a few hours and hung up the phone. It’s difficult to digest. But the first thing that comes into your mind is, “Wait a second. It’s Red Bull. They are calling you. They ask you to step in to do that job , with everything that Red Bull means – its energy, its spirit, how they go about their racing teams” and that’s how you pick up the phone and you say, “Of course, it’s an honour. It’s a privilege”.
“First thought obviously goes in this moment as well to Christian because it’s not something I could have expected. And he had been nothing else than extremely supportive with me these last two years. It’s not a secret that he’s the one with Oliver and Helmut that brought me back to the Red Bull family a couple of years ago. So that’s the sort of mix of emotions you get at that moment. But as I said, the dominant one is: it’s Red Bull calling. I guess it’s a matter of loyalty to go towards the brand and you just say, “Of course, if you think you need me there, I will go there”.”
Max Verstappen’s future talk –
Mekies: “In terms of priority, I’m sure what Max wants is a fast car. If we get him a fast car, it cancels out all the other considerations. So really, the focus is very much, as we said earlier, to get to know the team as quickly as possible in order to see how we can support, how we can build the next step of competitiveness in order to get a fast car and hence make it an easy call for Max.”
Why they choose you, team’s performances –
Mekies: “The first question you will have to ask them. I’m not going to take that one. The second question: all I’ve been seeing in these two weeks is extraordinary talent, incredible racing spirit. These guys go on the edge on every single aspect. There is not a single department where you see a bit of a feeling of laying back or resting. They really are at war, in the good sense of the word, in every single aspect. That’s what you see, Andrew. So, in front of that, what we are going to try to do is make sure that all these women and men have everything they need to express themselves at their best, that they are supported, that they have all the means they need to show their talent. They have been showing season after season that they are the best in the world or, if they are not, they are very close. To your point, you do not see weaknesses. You see a lot of desire from everyone to get that Red Bull energy, perhaps to reduce the noise outside, just to concentrate on racing. That’s what you see, and that’s what we are going to try to do together.”
What conversations with shareholders –
Mekies: “It’s probably, because of everything we’ve said earlier about trying to get to know the team, trying to understand the dynamics, trying to understand the strengths and the weaknesses, a bit early to talk about structure. But for sure, one thing that is very high in our priorities is to make sure that we have the right focus, that we avoid any bottlenecking in the company at all levels. It’s with that spirit that we look at what we need to do next. For sure, Formula 1 comes first. We have the chassis operation, the power unit operation. That’s what is going to be the main focus. It’s a racing team. People in the team love racing. That’s what they are here for. That’s going to be where the main focus is.”
Talks with Christian Horner, team told why he was dropped –
Mekies: “At first, yes, we have spoken. He has been nothing else than supportive even in the extremely difficult context for him. He was the first one to text, he was the first one to call. I think, again this morning or yesterday we texted again. He has been nothing else than supportive, which is very impressive in the context. Nobody is going to replace his character. Nobody is going to replace him like for like. I come in to do the CEO and team principal job. Is there any way one can do it in the same way as Christian? No. Or at least, certainly not me. But we’ll be relying on the incredible strengths that there are in this team. Everybody is stepping up.
“It’s certainly an opportunity to look for even more empowerment of our people. Every time we have discussions with Jonathan, we talk about how much strength in depth you have in this team, and that’s what you find. We will certainly look at this phase as a way to get our incredible people to step up and create together the next competitive advantage for the next regulation phase. The short answer is no, they haven’t [told me anything about why with Horner]. We didn’t get into the why and the why now, but they outlined the sort of objectives they had for the team moving forward.”
Details on deal –
Mekies: “Not sure how much I can share. Seriously, I don’t think anyone doubts what Red Bull F1 is here to do in terms of objectives. I don’t think anyone doubts what the objectives of the team are short term, mid‑term, long term: it’s to fight for wins and to fight for championships. That’s what it is. In terms of mission statements, that’s of course the objective for the time being, For the short term and the mid‑term, is it different to what it was yesterday? No. Does anyone have a contract that guarantees him to stay forever? No. I don’t either. But I think it’s pretty normal in Formula 1.”
Can the team fight back –
Mekies: “We normally don’t like very much the word ‘transition’ in Formula 1. You’re right, Red Bull F1 has had these two incredible eras of success. I think the next one is dictated by the change of regulations for next year and the amazing decision to go with our own power unit with Ford. That’s what will dictate a new era whether we want it or not. I think all the teams will be starting a new era because of the scale of the regulation change next year.”
Team culture –
Mekies: “You’re a bit too kind. What we want to get there is…. You’re asking about the culture, everybody loves the Red Bull approach, everybody loves the Red Bull energy. I’m sure you all recall the early days when Red Bull started in Formula 1, and I’m sure Jonathan remembers them very well. We all want to feel that energy. We all want to go racing. That’s what we all love, and that’s the basis of our culture. Yes, it is a Red Bull culture. It’s a Red Bull energy: work hard, play hard, and try to only think about racing.”
Jonathan Wheatley: “Laurent is an incredibly impressive person. He’s been a friend of mine for a really long time, and he has a wonderful way of managing people. I think the team principal’s role is very much to motivate the team, to put the right people in the right positions and give them the best opportunities and the tools they need to do the job. I have no doubt whatsoever that Laurent is going to excel in that regard. I just want to say again, I want to wish him all the very best in the future, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Here’s situation with Yuki Tsunoda’s floor
Here’s Max Verstappen and co on delayed start
Here’s Max Verstappen on future
Here’s reaction to Christian Horner drop
