Mental health: how Laurent Mekies is reshaping Red Bull's approach to driver support

Mental health and driver performance are inextricably linked in modern Formula 1, according to Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies. Speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange in London, Mekies outlined how the Milton Keynes outfit has developed a comprehensive approach to supporting drivers through one of motorsport's most psychologically demanding environments.

The conversation emerged from Red Bull's well-documented driver carousel, which has placed significant strain on multiple athletes in recent years. The team's struggle to establish stability in its second seat alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen has created a unique case study in how elite sports organizations must manage the psychological toll of competitive uncertainty.

The cost of demotion: learning from recent history

Red Bull's recent driver changes have provided Mekies with firsthand insights into the psychological impact of high-level motorsport decisions. Liam Lawson's demotion to the sister team Racing Bulls after just two race weekends in 2025 exemplified the brutal reality of Formula 1's performance-driven culture. Similarly, Yuki Tsunoda's transition from a race seat to a reserve driver role for the 2026 season underscores the psychological challenges drivers face when their competitive status changes.

As the former Racing Bulls team principal during Lawson's demotion, Mekies witnessed firsthand how such moves affect athletes. Yet rather than dismissing these as mere occupational hazards, he has made psychological support a cornerstone of Red Bull's organizational philosophy.

The holistic approach to mental well-being

"We are well aware that the psychological effect is huge," Mekies stated, emphasizing that this principle extends beyond driver demotions to encompass all elite athletes. He articulated a critical insight: the final margins of performance in Formula 1 are fundamentally psychological in nature.

"That last bit of performance is intimately linked to how you feel, how you are supported and what's in your mind," Mekies explained. This philosophy reflects modern sports science understanding—that championship-winning performance cannot be achieved through mechanical skill and engineering excellence alone.

Notably, Mekies has extended this principle beyond drivers to encompass the entire Red Bull organization. "In the same way that you need to create the environment for the drivers to express themselves and go fast, you need to create the environment for your engineers, for your mechanics, for your staff, to express their potential, their talent at best," he stated. This organizational-wide commitment suggests a sophisticated understanding of how team culture directly influences performance outcomes.

Supporting the next generation: Isack Hadjar's advantage

The appointment of Isack Hadjar as Max Verstappen's teammate for 2026 reflects Red Bull's commitment to this supportive philosophy. After impressing during his rookie Formula 1 season at Racing Bulls, Hadjar has earned promotion to the senior team and will receive comprehensive organizational backing.

Mekies emphasized that Red Bull will provide Hadjar with "360-degree support to make sure that he can express his talent in that car." Notably, Hadjar benefits from joining Red Bull at a significant regulatory reset. The 2026 season brings sweeping changes to hybrid power units and chassis regulations, offering a psychological advantage—new regulations create a level playing field where all drivers start their development curves anew.

Culture as competitive advantage

Red Bull's emphasis on mental health support reflects a broader evolution in elite sports. As Mekies indicates, organizational culture directly impacts performance, particularly in sports where marginal gains often determine championship outcomes. By prioritizing psychological well-being across all staff levels, Red Bull is implementing a modern approach that recognizes burnout, stress, and demoralization as genuine competitive disadvantages.

This perspective is particularly relevant as Red Bull embarks on its most ambitious challenge yet: developing in-house power units alongside navigating major regulatory changes for 2026. The psychological resilience of drivers, engineers, and mechanics will prove crucial to navigating what team leadership has characterized as an underdog year.

Laurent Mekies' comments represent a significant acknowledgment that modern Formula 1 success depends not solely on aerodynamic efficiency or horsepower, but on creating an environment where human beings can perform at their absolute best—physically, mentally, and emotionally.