Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies has directly addressed recent comments from former team boss Christian Horner regarding the team’s spirit. Mekies asserted that the ‘real Red Bull mentality’ remains strong within the Milton Keynes outfit. Horner, who departed Red Bull in July 2025, had suggested the team had lost its ‘mojo’ since his exit.
Christian Horner was dismissed as Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO on July 9, 2025, concluding a 20-year tenure. Laurent Mekies, previously Team Principal of Racing Bulls, was appointed as his successor on the same date.
Horner’s departure followed a period of declining performance, internal tensions, and high-profile resignations. This included the departure of renowned designer Adrian Newey, who moved to Aston Martin in March 2025.
Horner recently released his memoir, ‘Drive,’ and made statements to The Times ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September 2026. He claimed that Red Bull had lost its ‘presence’ and ‘vibe’ and that executives had referred to the operation as ‘Christian Horner Racing.’
Mekies responded during a press conference held before the Mexico City Grand Prix. He acknowledged Horner’s right to his opinion, given his extensive history with the team.
We certainly feel extremely differently about the vibe in the team.
Mekies emphasized the ‘incredible team spirit’ that has enabled Red Bull to recover from a challenging period in the 2026 season. The team faced initial difficulties with its chassis and the new power unit.
Persistent issues with race starts and recurring radio communication failures have also affected both Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Mekies confirmed that the start problems, which involve the engine, gearbox, and clutch, require significant hardware changes.
A complete resolution for the launch performance issues is not expected until the 2027 car. The radio communication faults, however, are targeted for a fix before the end of the current season.
Despite these challenges, Red Bull has demonstrated a resurgence in performance. Max Verstappen secured victories in the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix on October 4, 2026, and the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix on October 11, 2026.
The Malaysian Grand Prix marked Verstappen’s first win of the 2026 season and the maiden triumph for Red Bull Ford Powertrains. His Singapore victory was his first at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and his 73rd career Formula 1 win.
Verstappen also achieved a perfect weekend in Singapore, securing pole position for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, and winning the Sprint race. Red Bull currently holds third position in the Constructors’ Championship, level on points with McLaren.
Mekies highlighted the team’s ability to maintain unity and fighting spirit under pressure as the ‘true Red Bull mentality.’ He stressed that the team’s objective extends beyond individual race wins.
The ultimate goal for Red Bull Racing remains the pursuit of world titles. Mekies stated that until that objective is achieved, the team will not consider its work complete.
In the 2025 season, Max Verstappen finished as runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship by two points to Lando Norris, who secured his first world title. This occurred after Horner’s mid-season departure and Mekies’ takeover.
