Laurent Mekies‘ engineering background has been hailed by Ford Performance Director Mark Rushbrook as Red Bull Formula 1 collaboration inches towards a historic milestone.
After two highly successful decades at the helm of the Milton-Keynes-based squad, Christian Horner was shown the exit doors by upper echelons of the Red Bull hierarchy in favor of Mekies, last year.
The Frenchman, who had headed sister team Racing Bulls‘ F1 operations, assumed the role of CEO and Team Principal at Red Bull mid-way through last season.
Mekies’ arrival coincided with the team’s stark redemption on track – an ailing RB21 turned into a winning machine at the hands of Max Verstappen, winning six out of the 10 final races in 2025.
Now, with the 2026 regulations overhaul underway, Red Bull would be eager to pick up from where they left it off in the ground effects era.
That said, the new rulebook has also introduced jeopardy into the six-time Constructors’ Champions’ fate, with the team opting to become a fully-fledged works outfit for the first time in its history under the aegis of the new engine formula.
Red Bull has partnered with Ford, who itself hopes to make a triumphant return to F1, to produce its own power units – christened the DM-01 for its debut season in 2026 after late co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
Early running – including a shakedown run at Imola for Racing Bulls – at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has produced some promising early signs for its engine in terms of both, reliability and performance with Isack Hadjar and Verstappen topping the unofficial timing sheets at some point during the opening two days.
Laurent Mekies key to strong start to F1 2026 for Ford
The former Ferrari man had been praised by former Team Advisor Helmut Marko for being the architect of the team’s late-season revival last year.
Marko highlighted how the Frenchman’s deep technical expertise and background completely overhauled the approach within the Red Bull garage.
“Laurent is an excellent engineer, so now the idea is more to take whatever the simulation shows us, but mix that with the experience that Max has and with the experience that our racing engineers have,” the Austrian had said.
Rushbrook seems to concur with Marko, emphasising how Mekies’ engineering background allows him to align his leadership role more in sync with the competitive demands of the final package.
“I personally believe that it [Mekies’ engineering background] does help, because he has a better understanding of what it ultimately takes to deliver the car,” he said.
“Of course, he’s not going in there and doing the detailed engineering himself, but he’s able to support Pierre [Wache], Pedals [Paul Monaghan] and everybody.
“When they need help or when a project needs to be approved, Laurent is able to see it, understand it and give them the support they need.”
Horner deserves credit for Ford-Red Bull F1 partnership
The Briton’s final days with the Milton-Keynes-based outfit were dogged with sinister undertones of a political fallout.
Horner had been put under investigation by Red Bull GmbH, in 2023, after allegations of inappropriate behaviour well levelled at him by a female staff working closely with him.
While he was exonerated, things only went sideways for Horner since then. A potential rift between the Briton and Verstappen’s camp, including father, Jos and confidant Marko only muddied the waters further in terms of his future.
A sharp decline in the RB21’s competitiveness at the beginning of last year was to be the final nail in the coffin for Horner as far as CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was concerned, who sacked him in July.
But before he left, he had managed to onboard Ford as its OEM engine partner, something Rushbrook believes Horner should get full credit for.
“He deserves a lot of respect for what he built in the Red Bull team over 20 years, with the championships and also the technical depth that was built there,” Rushbrook asserted.
“And yes, he was the one in our very first discussions. “It was a very immediate relationship that was built all the way to the top of our company – and that’s part of what helped us to come into the sport in what we believe is the right way.
“So, full credit for everything that he’s delivered across his career.”
Ford has full faith in Mekies’ abilities to lead Red Bull
While it has become a trend for personnel with an engineering background to step into more senior management roles, Mekies’ ascension at Red Bull was pretty quick.
Since 2018, Mekies served as Ferrari’s Sporting Director, moving to AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in 2024 as its Team Principal.
Only a year-and-a-bit later, he was fast-tracked into one of the most prestigious seats at the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport.
But having seen Mekies’ track-record at the Faenza-based team, Rushbrook has no qualms in putting his faith in the Frenchman to lead Red Bull and Ford’s operations into the latest era of F1.
“We knew Laurent from when he was at VCARB, and we already had a relationship with him preparing for 2026,” he revealed.
“Based on that, we had a lot of confidence in what he was doing there. When the decision was made to put Laurent in at Red Bull, we were confident in who he is as a leader and as an engineer.
“I think he came in with the right approach as well. He believed in the team and what they were capable of. He has been there to support them, to help them get their full capability.”
READ MORE – Exclusive: ‘Real deal’ Arvid Lindblad backed for F1 success by ex-Red Bull junior
Discussion about this post