Laurent Mekies Extends His Red Bull Contract Until 2031
Laurent Mekies and Red Bull have officially announced an extension to their partnership. Mekies has signed a new contract that will keep him with the team until the end of 2031. This is not the only contract extension the team has secured, as Max Verstappen also agreed to a new deal earlier this year, keeping him with Red Bull until the end of 2030.
“I am incredibly proud to continue this journey with Oracle Red Bull Racing, and I would like to thank Chalerm, Mark, and Oliver, the entire Team, and everyone involved for the trust they have placed in the project. What makes this Team special is the way everyone comes together in pursuit of the same goal, and I feel privileged to work alongside such a talented and committed group every day,” said Laurent Mekies.
Mekies took over the leadership of Red Bull last July following the controversial departure of former team principal Christian Horner. At the time, Red Bull were fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, while the team’s leading star, Max Verstappen, was third in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by 69 points. However, following Mekies’ arrival, the team appeared to find a new lease of life. Although Verstappen was eventually 106 points behind after the race at Zandvoort, he managed to turn things around, winning six races before the end of the season and fighting for the title until the final round in Abu Dhabi. He ultimately finished just two points behind Lando Norris, who claimed the championship.
Red Bull initially struggled to adapt to the completely new regulations, which place a greater emphasis on electrical power, and the atmosphere within the team did not look particularly promising at the start of the season. However, Red Bull refused to give up and introduced several upgrades over recent race weekends that proved effective, allowing the car to demonstrate impressive form. This was reflected in Max Verstappen’s victories at Sepang in Malaysia and subsequently in Singapore, where he came close to securing another Grand Slam, missing out only on the fastest lap.
Verstappen has since climbed to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, just eight points behind British driver Lewis Hamilton. His teammate, Isack Hadjar, has also made a valuable contribution to Red Bull’s position in the Constructors’ Championship. Although Hadjar was forced to miss three races due to a wrist injury, he has improved his form since returning and even secured a podium finish in Baku. As a result, Red Bull are currently just seven points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship.
As mentioned earlier, another of Mekies’ important achievements was securing a contract extension for Max Verstappen in August. The Dutchman’s previous deal, which ran until the end of 2028, has been extended until the end of 2030. Earlier in the year, there was considerable speculation that Verstappen could leave Red Bull or move to another team, such as Mercedes or McLaren. The possibility of leaving was even acknowledged by Verstappen himself, who had grown frustrated not only with Red Bull’s underperforming car but also with the new regulations. He was particularly critical of the increased emphasis on energy management, arguing that the rules force drivers to focus so heavily on managing their energy that they are unable to race at full capacity.
Red Bull’s chief executive, Oliver Mintzlaff, is also pleased with Mekies’ work.
“Laurent has demonstrated outstanding leadership since returning to the Red Bull family. He combines technical expertise, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of what makes our Team successful. 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. Continuity in leadership is a key ingredient for sustained success, and we are delighted that Laurent will continue to lead the Team through the next chapter of our journey.”
Laurent Mekies has been involved in Formula 1 since 2001, when he entered the sport through Asiatech, a company that supplied engines to the Arrows team. There, he worked as a race engine engineer for Enrique Bernoldi. In 2002, Asiatech supplied engines to Minardi, where Mekies performed the same role for Mark Webber. After leaving Asiatech in 2002, he remained with Minardi, continuing in a similar position, this time working with Justin Wilson. In 2004, he was promoted to race engineer. When Red Bull took over the team and renamed it Toro Rosso in 2006, Mekies became chief engineer. In 2013 and 2014, he served as the team’s head of vehicle performance.
In 2014, Mekies moved to the FIA, where he initially served as safety director before becoming deputy race director for Formula 1. He left the governing body in 2018 to join Ferrari, where he remained until 2023. At Ferrari, he first worked as sporting director before being promoted to racing director. In 2025, prior to his promotion at Red Bull, he served as CEO and team principal of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Since the middle of 2025, he has held the same leadership role at Red Bull Racing.
Red Bull are therefore placing their faith in continuity, both in management and among their drivers. Isack Hadjar’s multi-year contract extension has also been confirmed. It will be interesting to see how the team continues to develop over the coming years.