Red Bull extends Mekies through 2031 after turbulent spell

Red Bull has extended team principal Laurent Mekies's contract through the end of 2031, a move Lieke Jacobs, writing for RacingNews365, sees as a step towards stability after a turbulent spell. The deal follows Max Verstappen's renewal through 2030 and confirmation that Isack Hadjar will join Red Bull in 2027.

Christian Horner was sacked after the British Grand Prix in July 2025, ending his two-decade tenure at Red Bull. Mekies, then in charge at Racing Bulls, immediately took over. The team also lost senior figures, with some describing the departures as a major exodus.

Red Bull's recovery was uneven. The team finished 2025 strongly after turning its season around, but began 2026 well behind its rivals. The RB22 was not performing as expected, and Verstappen's future was being questioned as he made his dissatisfaction clear. By October 2026, the car had improved and Red Bull had secured its first two wins of the year.

Jacobs's argument is that the recent commitments let Red Bull continue its development with key figures in place over the coming years. She reads Verstappen's renewal as a sign of trust in the team, and Mekies's decision to stay as confidence in the direction Red Bull has chosen.

Jacobs says Red Bull had already begun to reap benefits in Baku, Malaysia and Singapore. The extension was confirmed on the Wednesday after the Singapore Grand Prix, so it cannot explain that earlier progress; in Jacobs's view, its importance is giving Red Bull a stable base from which to build.