Mekies Hits Back at Horner: Red Bull's Fighting Spirit Intact

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has dismissed Christian Horner's claim that the team has 'lost its mojo' since Horner's departure, insisting the squad's fighting spirit is stronger than ever. Mekies pointed to Red Bull's resilience through a challenging 2026 season as evidence of its unity and determination.

Why it matters:

This public spat highlights the cultural shift at Red Bull post-Horner and the team's determination to prove its critics wrong. It also underscores the pressure on Mekies to deliver results after a rocky start to the new regulations era.

The details:

• Horner, sacked in July 2025, claimed Red Bull lost its "presence and vibe" and described a volatile atmosphere during his final period.
• Mekies countered that team spirit has been a strength, especially during a difficult first half of 2026 with chassis and power unit deficits.
• He cited Red Bull's late-season turnaround last year and recent wins for Max Verstappen in Singapore and Malaysia as proof of resilience.
• "The way the team set the Milton Keynes departments on fire to try to come back... that's the Red Bull spirit," Mekies said.
• However, Mekies stressed that winning individual races is not the goal: "The target is to be back to winning world titles, and until we are there, nobody will feel we have achieved anything."

What's next:

Red Bull will look to build on recent momentum as the 2026 season enters its final stretch, with the team aiming to close the gap to the frontrunners and lay the groundwork for a title challenge next year. Mekies' leadership will be under scrutiny as he seeks to restore Red Bull's championship pedigree.