Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has broken his silence on the abrupt dismissal earlier this month of long-serving team principal Christian Horner, confirming that performance was the central factor behind the decision.
Horner, who had led the team since its inception in 2005, was removed from his role as team principal and CEO just three days after the British Grand Prix.
While Red Bull’s corporate leadership issued no official explanation at the time, Marko has now confirmed that a combination of concerns led to the decision – but the team's competitive decline stood out as the main cause.
“It was the result of various factors. But primarily, performance was not quite where it should be,” Marko told Sky Germany at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The move came amid rising instability within the team, including growing uncertainty over the future of star driver Max Verstappen, a notable drop in competitiveness over the last 18 months, and a series of high-profile staff departures.
Horner’s removal also followed more than a year of off-track turbulence, including internal investigations into personal misconduct allegations that were ultimately dismissed.
Leadership Change: Laurent Mekies Steps In
In the wake of Horner’s departure, Red Bull have turned to Laurent Mekies – formerly team principal of sister team Racing Bulls – to take over team operations.
According to Marko, Mekies’ appointment is not only a strategic reshuffle but a conscious effort to streamline the team’s leadership structure with a greater focus on technical execution.
“Luckily, we were able to bring in Laurent Mekies from within the Red Bull family. His role will be significantly more focused – primarily on racing,” Marko explained.
“He's an excellent engineer, which is a good fit considering the complex technology in Formula 1.
We've already seen that he communicates very well with the staff. We're hopeful that we can gradually return to the top.”
Refining the Role, Refocusing the Team
Unlike Horner’s expansive dual role overseeing team management, business operations, and racing, Mekies will be tasked specifically with leading the technical and performance side of the Formula 1 outfit.
This, Marko believes, will allow the Milton Keynes-based team to return to its competitive best.
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“I believe that's definitely an advantage. Other teams have gone this route before us,” he said.
“Also, the scope of the role has been clearly reduced. The company has 2,000 employees. Mekies will mainly focus on the technical side and racing.
"Marketing, the RB17 project, or Powertrains are each handled by separate departments. So, he can dedicate his full energy to racing success.”
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With Mekies at the helm and a refocused structure in place, Red Bull appears determined to rebound from what Marko subtly acknowledged as a performance slump.
As the sport braces for sweeping regulation changes in 2026, the team’s internal shake-up may mark the beginning of a new era, one that Red Bull hopes will return them to the top step of the podium.
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