Laurent Mekies extends Red Bull contract until 2031

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has signed a contract extension keeping him in the role until the end of 2031. Mekies took over the team principal position in July 2025 after Christian Horner was sacked following 20 years in charge. He previously joined from the sister team Racing Bulls and also worked at Ferrari and the FIA. According to Sky Sports, his role includes serving as chief executive, and the deal is a five-year contract extension.

Recent Success

The contract announcement follows recent wins for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen in Malaysia and Singapore after a difficult start to the 2026 season. Red Bull currently sits fourth in the Constructors' Championship, just seven points behind third-placed McLaren. Verstappen recently extended his own contract to 2030, while driver Isack Hadjar also received a renewal into 2027.

Leadership Praise

Red Bull shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz praised Mekies in a joint statement for guiding the team through a period of transition while keeping its competitive spirit. Oliver Mintzlaff, the CEO of corporate projects and investments, also credited Mekies for his technical expertise and leadership. Mekies thanked the leadership team and acknowledged the central roles played by Pierre Wache and Ben Hodgkinson's teams in shaping the future.

Context

Team principals in Formula 1 manage the day-to-day operations, race strategies, and technical developments required to keep a car competitive across a long global season. Leadership stability is often seen as vital for managing large engineering groups and car development programs through major rule changes.