Red Bull extend Laurent Mekies as F1 team principal and CEO until end of 2031 after Singapore win

Red Bull Racing have extended Laurent Mekies' contract as team principal and CEO until the end of the 2031 Formula 1 season. Shareholder Mark Mateschitz announced the new deal on Wednesday, 14 October, during a team debrief at the Milton Keynes factory, just three days after Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix.

Announced on the back of two straight wins

The timing was deliberate. Red Bull arrived in Milton Keynes on a high after winning the last two grands prix. Verstappen first took victory at the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix, which was staged at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia after the original Middle East rounds were cancelled, and then followed up with his first win at Marina Bay last Sunday.

That run has transformed the mood at a team that went without a victory in the first half of the season. It is also Red Bull's first year as a power unit manufacturer under the new 2026 regulations, building its own engines through the Red Bull Powertrains division in partnership with Ford.

Who is Laurent Mekies?

The Frenchman took over from Christian Horner in July 2025, when Horner was removed after two decades in charge. He is only the second team principal in Red Bull Racing's history.

Mekies came across from sister team Racing Bulls, which he had led since the start of 2024. Before that he held senior roles at the FIA and Ferrari. He started out in F1 at Arrows and then Minardi, the Faenza squad that later became Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri and now Racing Bulls, so his career has come full circle inside the Red Bull family.

Under his leadership, Verstappen kept his 2025 title defence alive until the final race and finished just two points short of the champion.

Part of a wider rebuild

The extension completes a run of long-term commitments at Red Bull. Verstappen signed a new contract earlier this year that ties him to the team until at least the end of 2030, and Isack Hadjar has been confirmed for 2027.

In a joint statement, shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz said Mekies had played a crucial role in guiding the team through a period of transition while keeping its competitive spirit. Oliver Mintzlaff, who oversees Red Bull's corporate projects and investments including both F1 teams, praised his leadership and said continuity at the top is a key ingredient for sustained success.

Mekies thanked the owners and staff and singled out technical director Pierre Wache and powertrains director Ben Hodgkinson, whose groups he said will shape the team's future. He also restated the principles he wants the team to work by: "free in our thinking, fast in our actions and bold in our decisions."

What it means for the rest of 2026

With the drivers' title race now centred on Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, Red Bull's immediate target is to keep turning their late-season speed into results. Rivals have already noted how quick the RB22 has been at the last two rounds, and McLaren in particular are under pressure in the constructors' fight.

For Malaysian fans, the Sepang win carries extra significance: it was Red Bull's first victory with its own engine and came at a circuit that had been off the F1 calendar since 2017.

The next round is the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin from 23 to 25 October.

Key takeaways

• Laurent Mekies will stay as Red Bull Racing team principal and CEO until the end of the 2031 season.
• Mark Mateschitz announced the deal at Milton Keynes on 14 October, after back-to-back Verstappen wins at Sepang and Singapore.
• Mekies replaced Christian Horner in July 2025 and is only the team's second principal.
• The deal follows Verstappen's contract running to at least 2030 and Hadjar's confirmation for 2027.

FAQ

How long is Laurent Mekies' new Red Bull contract? It runs until the end of the 2031 Formula 1 season.

Which races has Red Bull won recently? Max Verstappen won the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix, held at Sepang in Malaysia, and then the Singapore Grand Prix on 11 October.

When did Mekies take over at Red Bull? He replaced Christian Horner in July 2025, moving across from Racing Bulls.

Sources: RACER, Crash.net, PlanetF1, RacingNews365, Malay Mail, AFP