Red Bull Racing Signs Laurent Mekies to Long-Term Leadership Deal Through 2031

Red Bull Racing has extended the contract of team principal and chief executive Laurent Mekies through 2031 inclusive. Shareholder Mark Mateschitz announced the long-term deal during a team debrief at the squad's factory in Milton Keynes. The decision follows back-to-back Formula 1 race victories that cemented Mekies' position after leading the organization through significant managerial changes.

The extension comes after a strong mid-season recovery for the team. Red Bull faced a difficult start to the 2026 season under new regulations, but turned its form around following an improvement in Baku. Max Verstappen secured consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore, delivering the first Formula 1 wins for the Red Bull Ford Powertrains project. Those results also placed Red Bull within striking distance of McLaren in the fight for third place in the championship standings.

Taking over the senior team

Mekies, 49, re-joined the Red Bull organization in 2024 to lead Racing Bulls before taking over the senior team from Christian Horner in mid-2025. The Frenchman had previously worked at Ferrari and the FIA. Under his guidance, Verstappen mounted a late title push in 2025, finishing just two points behind McLaren driver Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi finale. The team has also secured stability in its driver lineup, with Verstappen committed through 2030 and Isack Hadjar signed for 2027.

Shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz praised Mekies for guiding the team through an important period of transition. That stretch included the departures of Adrian Newey, Horner, and Helmut Marko over recent seasons. Mekies credited the broader workforce for the turnaround, highlighting technical director Pierre Wache and Red Bull Powertrains technical director Ben Hodgkinson as central figures in building the team's platform for the future.