red bull racing’s secret weapon? an engineer who treats workflows like lap times

A New Leader at the Helm of Red Bull Racing

Backstage at Web Summit, a candid moment unfolded before the stage call. A member of the production team, significantly larger in stature than Laurent Mekies, playfully guided the Oracle Red Bull Racing CEO towards the soundboard to capture a selfie. This informality, typically met with resistance from leaders of large organizations, was met with a smile and gracious accommodation from Mekies.

This seemingly minor interaction offers insight into Mekies’ character, particularly as he recently became only the second individual to lead Red Bull Racing in its 20-year history within Formula 1.

Embracing the Challenge

“The initial sensation is one of immense privilege and honor, to suddenly become part of such an exceptional team,” Mekies shared onstage, his English accented with a French cadence. “This team has consistently achieved more victories than any other in Formula One over the past two decades, and now I am a part of it.”

The transition was remarkably swift. Following the unexpected departure of Christian Horner in July, Mekies, who had been managing the team’s sister organization, Racing Bulls, was appointed to the role.

Mekies represents a departure from the typical F1 team principal. While Horner thrived in the public eye and strategic maneuvering, Mekies’ background is deeply rooted in engineering. This technical foundation shapes his approach to achieving performance gains, focusing not only on aerodynamics and tires but also on streamlining workflows and processes.

Partnerships and Competitive Advantage

This philosophy extends to the team’s collaborative efforts. Consider the partnership with 1Password, the cybersecurity firm, whose CEO, David Faugno, joined Mekies onstage at Web Summit. Faugno assumed leadership of his company around the same time as Mekies took the reins at Red Bull Racing.

The alliance between a cybersecurity company and an F1 team may appear unconventional. Security measures often introduce friction – passwords, authentication protocols, and processes that can impede speed. In the world of Formula 1, where fractions of a second are critical, this is unacceptable.

However, Mekies views 1Password as a vital component of Red Bull’s competitive advantage. “Our personnel must navigate and access complex systems – aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics both on and off the track, simulations, and wind tunnel testing. We now achieve faster, seamless access for our team members, while maintaining a heightened level of security.”

While other teams, such as Mercedes with CrowdStrike and McLaren with Darktrace, also leverage exclusive partnerships for competitive benefits, Mekies emphasizes the compounding effect of even small advantages in F1. “We relentlessly pursue every marginal gain. Our technical expertise and our people consistently challenge us to minimize unavoidable disruptions. 1Password provides a solution that reduces noise, maximizes time dedicated to core functions, and ultimately drives performance.”

From Engineering Roots to CEO

At 48 years old, Mekies has experienced Formula 1 from diverse perspectives. Following his education at ESTACA in Paris and Loughborough University in the U.K., he began his racing career in Formula 3 in 2000 before entering F1 with Arrows in 2001.

He subsequently joined Minardi in 2003 as a race engineer. When Red Bull acquired the team and rebranded it as Toro Rosso in 2006, Mekies was promoted to chief engineer.

A Career of Innovation

Mekies remained with Toro Rosso for eight years before transitioning to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) as safety director. There, he is credited with advocating for the “halo” system – the titanium safety device protecting drivers’ heads in Formula 1 cars.

He then moved to Ferrari as deputy race director, and five years later, returned to Red Bull’s junior racing team (renamed Racing Bulls in 2024).

Mekies’ extensive experience is a significant asset. However, he currently exhibits a notable lack of self-promotion. When Max Verstappen secured victory at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, reporters inquired about Mekies’ contribution. His response was remarkably humble: “I have zero contribution.” He later clarified, with a touch of humor, “I’m not kidding.”

When asked about this moment, Mekies simply stated, “Our role as leaders is to empower our people to showcase their talents. It is truly their achievement.”

A Different Leadership Style

Mekies’ leadership approach differs from his predecessor. He isn’t intentionally leading “from behind,” but rather believes that leadership style is less important than fostering a culture of care for both the people and the company.

While he recognizes the importance of retaining star drivers like Verstappen, his primary focus is on the collective effort. “Your initial thoughts are with the 2,000 individuals back at the factories who have remained dedicated throughout this season. Maintaining motivation and a fighting spirit requires immense energy and a strong company culture.”

Humility, however, does not equate to complacency. The Monza win also validated a strategic decision to continue development on the 2025 car, rather than shifting focus to the following year. “We were dissatisfied with the car’s performance earlier this year. We decided to push forward with 2025, rather than simply hoping for improvement next year.”

This was a calculated risk, as most teams had already allocated resources to the 2026 car due to upcoming regulation changes. However, Mekies felt it was crucial to understand the underlying issues before moving forward. “We needed to identify what wasn’t working. We may have invested more than some competitors, but it ultimately led to a turnaround in performance.”

Looking Ahead

The team now faces winter development with less time than its rivals, but with increased confidence in its tools, methodologies, and processes.

The 2026 season presents a new challenge: Red Bull is building its own power unit for the first time, in partnership with Ford, ending its reliance on Honda-based engines since 2019. Mekies describes it as a “crazy adventure.”

He explains onstage: “We are developing our own power unit with Ford’s support, competing against manufacturers with over 90 years of Formula One engine experience. It’s a bold undertaking for Red Bull. We’ve established facilities in Milton Keynes, U.K., from scratch – constructing buildings, installing dynos, hiring 600 people, and striving to create a cohesive team to develop and refine an engine.”

When asked about the possibility of a championship-winning car next year, Mekies acknowledges the challenges. “It would be unrealistic to expect immediate success. However, we embrace the Red Bull approach – a high-risk, high-reward strategy.”

Currently third in the F1 team standings, Red Bull has a realistic chance of overtaking Mercedes for second place in the final three races of the season. While not the dominance of recent years, it would represent a significant recovery.

Before a public discussion, while makeup artists prepare him for the stage, I inquire about the pressure of the final races.

“We always focus on one race at a time. That’s our approach for the next three races,” he replies. “Our goal is to arrive at the track, optimize the car’s setup, and compete for the win.”

He acknowledges the difficulty of competing at such a high level, but emphasizes the dedication of the team in Milton Keynes. “Everyone has worked tirelessly to improve the car and deliver a competitive package for the end of the season.”

Mekies insists he doesn’t dwell on points tables or hypotheticals. “We don’t analyze the standings. We’re aware of the changes, but we concentrate solely on each race.”

That, he concludes, is Red Bull’s singular mission: “Chasing lap times.”