Inside Laurent Mekies' rollercoaster first year at Red Bull

One year after replacing Christian Horner, Laurent Mekies is confronting the fallout of a decision that nearly made him a legend. Red Bull's all-in push for the 2025 title sacrificed early 2026 development, leaving the team fourth in the constructors' standings and struggling to close the gap to Mercedes.

Why it matters:

Mekies' early choices have placed Red Bull in its most vulnerable position in over a decade. As the team becomes a full manufacturer with its own Ford-partnered power unit, delays are compounded by a staff exodus and growing fears that Max Verstappen could leave.

The details:

• The 2025 gamble: Appointed in July 2025, Mekies prioritized the title fight over the 2026 car. Verstappen erased a 100-point deficit to close within two points of Lando Norris by Abu Dhabi, but the narrow loss left the RB22 program underdeveloped.
• Paying the price: Mekies has been candid that the team is suffering a hangover. The RB22 started 1.2 seconds off the pace in Japan, and he has warned that no single upgrade will provide a quick fix.
• New territory: Running the Red Bull PowerTrains unit is a steep challenge against seasoned manufacturers. Integrating a first-generation engine with complex 2026 energy-management rules is an enormous undertaking.
• Personnel drain: Helmut Marko retired at the end of 2025, chief designer Craig Skinner left in February 2026, and Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2027.
• Verstappen's frustration: Seventh in the standings, Verstappen has called the 2026 rules "Mario Kart" and admitted he feels "empty." Performance clauses in his 2028 contract are believed triggered, with his management reportedly talking to McLaren.

What's next:

Mekies insists the team is on a "continuous, closing-the-gap trajectory" and remains confident in the power unit's long-term direction. Yet the immediate test is giving Verstappen a competitive car before frustration or exit clauses make a McLaren switch inevitable. The next few development rounds will likely define whether Mekies can steady the ship or become the principal who lost F1's top driver.