Mekies extends Red Bull deal through 2031 after turbulent spell

Laurent Mekies has signed a contract to remain Red Bull team principal through 2031, giving the team long-term continuity at the top after a turbulent period.

His deal follows Max Verstappen's commitment to Red Bull through 2030 and the confirmation that Isack Hadjar will complete the team's driver line-up in 2027.

The contrast with Red Bull's recent past is sharp. Senior figures left one after another, and Christian Horner was dismissed as team principal in July 2025. Mekies was appointed as his successor. Red Bull recovered to finish the 2025 season strongly.

The 2026 season began with the team seriously behind its rivals: the RB22 was underperforming and Verstappen had made his dissatisfaction clear. Red Bull has also made progress with the car and claimed its first two victories of 2026.

The extension matters most as a commitment to continuity: Mekies took charge amid Red Bull's upheaval and can now oversee its recovery on a longer horizon. The first two wins suggest the RB22 is responding, but the team's difficult start to 2026 leaves the longer-term test open: whether it can sustain that level.