Gwen Lagrue, formerly a key figure in Mercedes’ driver development, will join Oracle Red Bull Racing as Director of the Red Bull Junior Programme. The move, announced on July 27, 2026, sees Lagrue transition to the Milton Keynes outfit for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
Lagrue will report directly to Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing. He is also set to become a member of the team’s leadership group, strengthening Red Bull’s organisational structure.
His appointment follows an eleven-year tenure at Mercedes, where he established a reputation as one of Formula 1’s leading talent developers. Lagrue’s expertise lies in identifying, nurturing, and progressing young drivers through motorsport categories.
During his time with Mercedes, Lagrue played a central role in the development of several notable drivers. This includes current Mercedes F1 driver George Russell and rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Lagrue’s move to Red Bull will see him take charge of a programme with a significant legacy. The Red Bull Junior Programme was previously led for over two decades by Helmut Marko, who departed at the end of 2025.
Laurent Mekies commented on Lagrue’s arrival, stating his expertise and passion for developing young drivers are well-known. Mekies emphasised the continued importance Red Bull places on its junior programme.
Lagrue himself expressed that joining Oracle Red Bull Racing marks an exciting new chapter. He noted that after eleven memorable years at Mercedes, it felt like the right moment for a new professional challenge.
The Red Bull Junior Programme has been instrumental in bringing talents like Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, and Carlos Sainz into Formula 1. Lagrue will now oversee the next generation of drivers.
Red Bull aims to build on the programme’s established legacy and evolve it for the future. Attracting leaders of Lagrue’s calibre is fundamental to achieving the team’s long-term ambitions.
