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Red Bull F1 and Laurent Mekies announce contract extension
Confirmed
In Short: Red Bull Racing has extended the contract of team principal Laurent Mekies until the end of 2031, following a strong performance in recent races.
Red Bull Racing has extended the contract of team principal Laurent Mekies until the end of 2031, following a strong performance in recent races. The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 reported that Mekies signed a long-term contract extension, with the French engineer having taken over the team principal role from Christian Horner in 2025.
According to the BBC (United Kingdom), Mekies' contract extension comes after Red Bull improved their car performance, leading to Max Verstappen's dominant victories in the last two races in Malaysia and Singapore. Meanwhile, Formula 1 noted that Mekies has been with Red Bull since July 2025, when he was promoted from Racing Bulls.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' arrival coincided with an impressive turnaround by Red Bull, with Verstappen falling just two points short of the 2025 world championship. However, the BBC (United Kingdom) highlighted that Mekies took over after Horner's sacking in the summer of 2025, while Formula 1 noted that Mekies had previously been the team principal and CEO of Racing Bulls.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and https://www.autohebdof1.com/ (France) reported that Mekies has been a key figure in Red Bull's recent success, with the French publication noting that Mekies feels well at Red Bull and the team reciprocates that sentiment.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' contract extension reflects the team's confidence in his leadership and their shared belief in the long-term vision of the team. The BBC (United Kingdom) quoted Mekies as saying, 'We are ambitious about what lies ahead and we are committed to building on this momentum together.'
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' contract extension ensures consistency for the team heading into future seasons, with Verstappen and his teammate Isack Hadjar both receiving contract renewals in recent months.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' contract extension was announced after Verstappen's latest victories, with the BBC (United Kingdom) noting that the announcement was made by Red Bull's owner, Mark Mateschitz, at a debrief following the Malaysia and Singapore races.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' leadership has been crucial in guiding the team through a period of transition while maintaining the competitive spirit and Red Bull principles that define the team.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' contract extension reflects the team's ambition and commitment to building on their recent momentum. The BBC (United Kingdom) noted that Mekies' contract extension comes less than two months after Verstappen extended his own contract with Red Bull by two years to the end of 2030.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' contract extension is a significant move for Red Bull, with the BBC (United Kingdom) noting that Mekies' arrival coincided with an impressive turnaround by Red Bull, and Formula 1 highlighting that Mekies has been a key figure in the team's recent success.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' contract extension is a strong display of faith in his leadership, with the BBC (United Kingdom) noting that Mekies' contract extension comes after Red Bull improved their car performance, leading to Verstappen's dominant victories in the last two races.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Formula 1 both reported that Mekies' contract extension is a significant move for Red Bull, with the BBC (United Kingdom) noting that Mekies' arrival coincided with an impressive turnaround by Red Bull, and Formula 1 highlighting that Mekies has been a key figure in the team's recent success.
Background
Red Bull Racing has extended the contract of team principal Laurent Mekies until the end of 2031, following a strong performance in recent races.
Karl-Anthony Towns said Monday that extension talks with the Knicks are not going well.
What's confirmed
- After a difficult start to the 2026 season, Red Bull have improved their car to the extent that Max Verstappen has taken dominant victories in the last two races, in Malaysia and Singapore.
- "We are ambitious about what lies ahead and we are committed to building on this momentum together." The move comes less than two months after Verstappen extended his own contract with Red Bull by two years to the end of 2030 after a period of uncertainty over his future.
- Mekies took over the team principal role at Red Bull from Christian Horner in 2025 Red Bull have extended the contract of team principal Laurent Mekies until the end of 2031.
- "Continuity in leadership is a key ingredient for sustained success."
- Laurent Mekies has signed a long-term contract extension to remain as Red Bull's CEO and Team Principal, lasting through the 2031 season.
- We are ambitious about what lies ahead and we are committed to building on this momentum together." "Just as importantly, he embodies the values and mentality that define the Red Bull way: courage, teamwork, determination, and an unrelenting desire to compete at the highest level.
- "Laurent has played a crucial role in guiding the team through an important period of transition while maintaining the competitive spirit and the Red Bull principles that define us. This extension reflects our confidence in his leadership and our shared belief in the long-term vision of the team. We are ambitious about what lies ahead and we are committed to building on this momentum together."
- The French engineer was promoted from Racing Bulls in July 2025 and led the Milton Keynes-based outfit through a challenging start to this year, which saw them drop behind their rivals under the new regulations.
- “The strength of Red Bull has always come from its people and from creating an environment where talented individuals can achieve extraordinary things together,” they said jointly.
- Three days after Verstappen’s latest victory, Red Bull has announced that Mekies has extended his contract with the team until the end of 2031.
- Mekies’ arrival coincided with an impressive turnaround by Red Bull, with Max Verstappen falling just two points short of the 2025 world championship.
- The confirmation of a new contract for the Frenchman comes after Verstappen signed a new long-term deal in the summer, and Isack Hadjar was also confirmed for 2027 last month.
What's still developing
- Verstappen's two victories came in the wake of an interview Horner gave to the Times in which he claimed Red Bull had "lost its mojo, its presence, its vibe".
- Prior to joining Red Bull, Mekies was the team principal and CEO of Racing Bulls, having also enjoyed previous spells in senior positions at the FIA and Ferrari, and started his career at Arrows in 2001, before moving to Minardi in 2002, which, over time, would be known as Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri, and currently Racing Bulls.
- Red Bull announced the new deal on social media on Wednesday: In the announcement, Mekies said he was “proud” to continue the journey with the team: The team also gathered on Wednesday to celebrate Verstappen’s pair of wins, the first under the team’s new power unit partnership with Ford: Red Bull and the rest of the F1 grid will head to Austin next week for the United States Grand Prix.
- Though it is increasingly common for F1 team principals both to be on specific-term contracts rather than rolling employee deals, and for extensions of those deals to be announced in public, Red Bull's strong display of faith in Mekies still stands out as a message the company hierarchy clearly wanted the world to hear.
- The Red Bull press release announcing Mekies’ new deal specifically highlighted that "under Laurent’s leadership, the team delivered a remarkable turnaround during the second half of the 2025 season, ultimately missing out on the drivers’ championship by just two points".
- Laurent Mekies se sent bien chez Red Bull, et l’écurie britannico-autrichienne le lui rend bien.
- Ndlr) et Oliver (Mintzlaff, directeur général des projets et investissements de Red Bull.
- “You could see from that first weekend in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and had earned his place in this seat,” said Mekies.
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Sources
- Auto Actionlink
- BBClink
- Bozeman Daily Chroniclelink
- Formula1link
- MotorBiscuitlink
- NewsCordlink
- Racerlink
- RacingNews365link
- Sbnationlink
- Skysportslink
- The Racelink
- https://www.autohebdof1.com/link
- Planetf1link
- Racefanslink
- WarpBeat — background on Red Bull Extends Mekies' Contract Through 2031 link
- WarpBeat — background on Towns' Contract Extension Talks Not Looking Good for Knicks link
- Rokt — video link