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Laurent Mekies has inherited a Red Bull operation facing trouble on several fronts, but the central issue may not be the team principal himself. Since Christian Horner’s dismissal midway through 2025, the organisation has changed dramatically — and the shift in power behind the scenes is now shaping its Formula 1 performance.
Horner’s exit followed a power struggle and controversy within the team. He was joined out of the door by several key figures, including Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey, after losing the backing of Red Bull’s Thai ownership. He was also prohibited from attending Formula 1 races for a year after leaving Milton Keynes.
That political upheaval matters because Red Bull no longer appears to operate with the same leadership structure. As outlined by journalist Edd Straw on The Race F1 Podcast, the team has become a “more corporate version” of itself, with increased oversight and control from its owners.
Under the 2026 regulations, Red Bull is struggling despite the FIA considering its power unit the best on the grid — an achievement for which Horner is credited with significant responsibility. The RB22, however, is regarded within the team as a “flop”. It has been unreliable and unable to match Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari.
Mekies cannot be held solely responsible for that situation. Yet the structure around him is becoming increasingly relevant. Straw describes the new approach as a “bad thing” and a “danger” for the team, arguing that Mekies is not empowered in the same way Horner was. Rather than operating as a dominant political force, he appears to be functioning as a “functionary” or simply an “employee”.
The clearest example is ADUO. Red Bull will not be permitted additional upgrades in 2026 or 2027 because the FIA believes it has the strongest engine. Mekies has warned of the “disastrous” consequences, but the criticism is that Horner would have protested more aggressively and used his influence to challenge the decision.
That contrast sits alongside the wider performance concerns examined in Red Bull’s 2026 half-season report.
An F1 team must be able to function as a unified racing operation. The argument being made now is that Red Bull’s corporate oversight is restricting that freedom. Former owner Dietrich Mateschitz was described as effective because he rarely interfered in the team’s operation.
Mekies therefore needs greater leeway in Milton Keynes. Unless Red Bull restores that operational freedom, the team may continue to struggle — regardless of whether its team principal is personally at fault.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.