Source: Official Team Post via X
Laurent Mekies Counters Christian Horner's Critique of Red Bull's Spirit
Laurent Mekies, the new team principal at Red Bull, has refuted Christian Horner's suggestion that the team has lost its drive. Red Bull's recent performance uptick, including Max Verstappen's rise to second in the championship, paints a different picture.
Christian Horner’s recent remarks about Red Bull losing its 'mojo' have been met with skepticism by the team's current principal, Laurent Mekies. Since taking over from Horner in July 2025, Mekies has overseen a resurgence in Red Bull's fortunes, with the team clinching three of the last five Grand Prix victories and Max Verstappen climbing to second in the drivers’ standings.
Horner, who was replaced by Mekies, expressed his views in an interview with the Times, suggesting that the team had lost its essence since his departure. He commented, “I think if you look at that team 12 months down the line, it’s lost its mojo, its presence, its vibe.” Mekies, however, sees things differently.
Responding at the Mexican GP, Mekies acknowledged Horner's long tenure and respected his opinion but firmly disagreed with his assessment. "We certainly feel extremely differently about the vibe in the team," Mekies stated, highlighting the strong team spirit that has helped Red Bull bounce back from a challenging start to the season. Despite early struggles with the RB22's performance and reliability, Red Bull has shown resilience, which Mekies attributes to the unity and determination within the team.
Mekies emphasized that maintaining a positive spirit is crucial, especially when facing adversity. He praised the team’s effort to overhaul their situation, saying, "The way the team set the Milton Keynes department on fire to come back, and the way they have done that, it’s such a constructively challenging matter from any of our team members to the brutally honest comments of our drivers."
Ultimately, Mekies remains focused on the bigger picture: reclaiming world titles. He acknowledged, "The target is not to win one race or two races. The target is to be back to world titles, and until we are there, nobody will feel we have achieved anything." Despite Horner's comments, Mekies is confident that Red Bull's recent achievements are a testament to their enduring spirit.