Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes’ driver development advisor, has officially announced his departure from the team after more than a decade. He confirmed the move in a detailed farewell message posted on social media, marking the end of his tenure with the Brackley-based squad.
Lagrue oversaw the junior programme at Mercedes, playing a crucial role in the careers of current F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. He also worked with talents such as Esteban Ocon and Nyck De Vries during their formative years.
In his departing statement, Lagrue reflected on his 11 seasons with the team. ‘When Toto gave me the opportunity to join the team, I couldn’t have imagined the journey that lay ahead,’ he wrote. ‘Watching young talent grow into world-class professionals has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.’
It was confirmed several weeks ago that Lagrue would be joining rival Red Bull. He is set to become the director of the Red Bull Junior Programme, a role previously managed by Helmut Marko until the end of the 2025 season.
Lagrue will begin his new position in 2027 after completing a period of gardening leave. His final Grand Prix with Mercedes was the recent event in Budapest.
The move is seen as a significant acquisition for Red Bull as it restructures its talent development operations. Lagrue’s signing is considered a key step in strengthening the team’s foundations for the future. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner expressed surprise at the move, suggesting Red Bull made a ‘very good offer’.
This transfer is part of a larger trend of personnel moving between top teams. Red Bull has notably recruited a significant number of staff from Mercedes’ High Performance Powertrains division for its own 2026 engine project.
