Laurent Mekies has lifted the lid on the unexpected phone call that thrust him into the hot seat as Red Bull’s new CEO and Team Principal in Formula 1.
Speaking ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Mekies revealed how the promotion came out of the blue and reflected on the emotional and professional challenges of stepping into Christian Horner’s shoes amid a seismic shift for the team.
Red Bull parted ways with the Briton earlier this month amid a difficult phase, as the Austrian outfit currently sits out of contention for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
With a four-time World Champion like Max Verstappen behind the wheel, anything less than a fight for victory is deemed unacceptable — prompting a decisive change in leadership.
Taking the reins is Mekies, who has been spearheading efforts at Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls.
He brings extensive experience to the role, having previously worked with Ferrari and Toro Rosso, alongside a four-year tenure at the sport’s governing body, the FIA.
Reflecting on how the news first reached him, he shared personal details about the unexpected nature of the call and his initial reaction.
“Well, it was not very different for me than it was for you,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“I got a call a few hours before you guys were made aware. I got a call from Oliver and Helmut and they asked me if I would be interested to do the job.
“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 hang up the phone. And obviously, it’s difficult to digest.
“But the first thing that then comes into your mind, you say, well, wait a second, it’s Red Bull. They are calling you. They ask you to step in to do that job.”
Red Bull’s focus and future direction
Expanding on his initial reaction to the unexpected offer, Mekies shared why he said yes to the project.
“With everything that Red Bull means, it’s energy, it’s spirits, how they go about their racing teams — that’s how you pick up the phone — you say, of course, it’s an honour, it’s a privilege,” he explained.
“The dominant one is Red Bull calling. I guess it’s then a matter of loyalty towards the brand. And you just say, of course, if you think you need me there, I will go there.”
Mekies went on to stress that, despite changes at the top, the team’s passion for racing remains unwavering and will guide its approach moving forward.
“It’s probably because of everything we have said earlier about trying to get the team, trying to understand the dynamics, trying to understand the strengths and the weaknesses,” he said when asked about the structure of leadership at Red Bull.
“It’s probably a bit early to talk about structure, but for sure, one thing that is very high in our priorities to make sure that we can have the right focus, that we avoid any bottlenecking in the company at all levels, as it’s with that spirit that we look at what we need to do next.
“So 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, and that’s going to be where the main focus is.”
Mekies on following Horner and empowering the team
Mekies reflected candidly on his relationship with Horner and the challenge of following such a prominent figure in F1.
“First thoughts obviously goes to, in this moment as well, to Christian,” he said.
“Because it’s not something that I could have expected. And he had been nothing else than extremely supportive with me in 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 emotion that you get at that moment.
“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 text each other again. So he has been nothing else than supportive, which is very impressive in the context.
“And nobody is going to replace his character. Nobody is going to replace him like for like. I come in to do the CEO and the 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 is in this team. Everybody is stepping up. It’s certainly an opportunity to look for even more empowerment of our people.
“Look how much strength in depth you have in this team. And that’s what you find.
“So we will certainly look at this phase as a way to get our incredible people to step up and to create together the next competitive advantage for the next regulation phase.”
Team morale remains strong amidst unexpected changes
He concluded on a hopeful note, emphasising the team’s resilience and shared determination.
“For sure, the first 24 hours was a big adjustment because nobody was expecting it,” Mekies added.
“The first few hours after the announcement was a surprise for everyone and certainly a digestive phase for everyone.
“I’ve been only finding a huge amount of support from everyone — they just want to go racing.
“So they are hugely respectful and we all are in the achievements that have been made under Christian’s leadership.
“Can 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.
“What were the limitations, what were the strengths? How do we go next about going back to the racetrack and fighting at an even higher level tomorrow? That’s what I found.”
READ MORE — Red Bull stalwart envisages ‘difficult’ period after ‘shock’ Christian Horner F1 exit
