Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has highlighted how the team has transformed its Formula 1 operations following the exit of long time Team Principal Christian Horner and the appointment of Laurent Mekies.
Horner, who had been with Red Bull for 20 years, was dismissed earlier this season. Mekies, who had been leading sister team Racing Bulls since 2024, was appointed as CEO and Team Principal ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Since Mekies’ arrival, Max Verstappen has returned to the podium and claimed victory at the Italian Grand Prix, giving Red Bull a much needed boost in performance.
Marko, believed to have played a key role in Horner’s departure, explained how the team has improved its technical structure under Mekies. “The whole Red Bull technical team is more open and they discuss things. They are not blind to what the simulation says,” he told reporters.
The Austrian also revealed that engineers are placing greater emphasis on driver input, particularly from Verstappen. “The engineers are listening more to the driver. If you have such a fast and experienced driver, I think that’s the right way,” he said. “He has to drive it and it is important that our top speed is improving. We saw we could drive away from the McLarens and also some other changes – the driver’s input was recognised.”
Mekies’ appointment was seen as a gamble, given that he had never previously served as a Red Bull Formula 1 Team Principal. However, Marko believes that four races into his tenure, Mekies has justified the decision to promote him to lead the main team.
“Appointing him was the right decision,” Marko said. “Given the complexity of Formula 1, having a technical expert at the top is probably the better solution. It’s now much more structured from a technical perspective. And when everything works together, and the driver is integrated into the process, you can see the results. The car isn’t fundamentally different, but with this level of coordination, we can deliver such performances.”
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
