Who is Laurent Mekies the new Red Bull F1 boss?

Born in Tours, France on 28 April 1977, Mekies’ passion for motorsport was ignited by a childhood visit to the 1988 French Grand Prix at Le Castellet. Inspired to pursue a career in the sport, he earned a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from ESTACA in Paris.

He went on to complete his final year at Loughborough University in the UK. His early break came in 2000 with a trackside internship at Signature in French F3, leading to a role at Asiatech in 2001 as an engine engineer supplying the Arrows F1 team.

A year later, Mekies joined Minardi as a race engineer, beginning a 12-year tenure in Faenza. When the team became Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006, he was promoted to Chief Engineer, overseeing all trackside operations, from car construction to race execution. He later became Head of Vehicle Performance, managing six key departments focused on competitiveness.

In 2014, Mekies transitioned to the FIA, first as Safety Director with oversight of safety and medical matters across all championships, then as F1 Deputy Race Director in 2017, working alongside the late Charlie Whiting and overseeing sporting matters across single-seater categories.

Returning to a competitive team role in 2018, Mekies joined Ferrari as Sporting Director. His remit expanded over the years, becoming Head of Track & Performance in 2019 and then Racing Director in 2021. He departed Ferrari in 2023 to lead the rebranded Faenza-based team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, as Team Principal starting January 2024.

There, he oversaw a comprehensive rebuild—promoting internal talent and recruiting top-level personnel—to lift the team to eighth in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship with 46 points. By mid-season in 2025, they were already seventh with 36 points after just 12 races, marking a clear upward trajectory.

Now, with Red Bull entering a new era of vertical integration, designing both chassis and power units under one roof at the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes, Mekies steps up to lead the senior outfit. His appointment closes the book on Horner’s 20-year reign and begins a new chapter for the reigning Constructors’ Champions.

The Frenchman said in the official statement: “Over the last year and a half it has been an absolute privilege to lead Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and I would like to thank all of our talented people both in Faenza and Milton Keynes.

"Looking to the future, I am excited to be taking on the role of CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, one of the most successful and dynamic teams in the sport. It’s an honour to be part of this group of brilliant people who embody the Red Bull spirit.

"Together we will achieve great results, building on the incredible legacy left by Christian Horner during his two decades in charge," acknowledged Medkies, the new Red Bull Racing team principal, as of today.