Guenther Steiner, former team principal of the Haas Formula 1 team, praised Laurent Mekies’ calm leadership, crediting him with stabilizing Red Bull Racing after Christian Horner’s departure. Mekies took over as CEO and head of the team in July 2025, during a period marked by numerous changes in key team personnel.
Following the departure of prominent figures such as Adrian Newey and Helmut Marko, Mekies has worked to stabilize the team while managing the introduction of new power units designed by Red Bull Powertrains in collaboration with Ford, as well as the regulatory changes for 2026. Currently, Red Bull sits in fourth place in the constructors’ championship.
One of the key moments for the team occurred at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where four-time champion Max Verstappen achieved his first victory of the season and the first of the new Red Bull Powertrains project. In a recent episode of The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner praised Mekies for his ability to ignore external pressures and maintain team cohesion.
“He inherited a team that was a bit out of control,” Steiner commented. “The good Laurent handled it well, always with a smile and polite, without reacting to Max Verstappen’s outbursts. He kept working. Despite the departures of people and the criticism, guess what? He managed to return the team to victory.”
Additionally, Steiner highlighted Mekies’ experience as a key factor for success. “He has extensive experience in many areas within Formula 1 and knows how to keep calm. He always looks for ways to solve problems and isolate himself from external noise, which is a real art,” Steiner added. Now, with a promising future, Mekies is a valued and respected leader in the world of motorsport.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI