Red Bull Racing is charging back to form in the 2025 F1 season, and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has praised the transformative effect Laurent Mekies has had since taking the reins of the team, highlighting improvements in technical processes and decision-making that have already paid off on track.
Mekies, who joined from sister outfit Racing Bulls in July following Christian Horner’s firing, has brought a fresh approach to a Red Bull team that had seen its dominance gradually slip its crushing domination in 2023.
After initially falling behind McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes earlier this season, Red Bull has shown a marked upturn in the four races since Mekies’ appointment, including a sprint victory in Belgium and Max Verstappen’s masterclass triumph at Monza last weekend.
Marko emphasized the changes Mekies has made to the team’s internal operations.
“The whole technical team is more open and they discuss things,” he said, quoted by Autosport. “They are not blind to what the simulation says.”
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This cultural shift includes a greater emphasis on listening to the drivers, particularly in scenarios where team members might have preferred alternative setups. Verstappen, for example, successfully opposed a higher downforce setup at Monza, going on to dominate from pole position.
“The engineers are listening more to the driver. If you have such a fast and experienced driver, I think that's the right way,” Marko added.
“He has to drive it and it is important that our top speed is improving. We saw we could drive away from the McLarens and also some other changes - the driver's input was recognised.”
A Broader Trend in F1 Leadership
As noted by Autosport, Mekies’ promotion reflects a wider trend in Formula 1, where teams are appointing ex-engineers ahead of the regulation overhaul in 2026.
Recent examples include Haas replacing Guenther Steiner with former trackside engineering director Ayao Komatsu, McLaren led by ex-Ferrari engineer Andrea Stella, and Mekies’ Racing Bulls successor Alan Permane, previously a Renault race engineer.
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Marko believes the technical expertise at the top is crucial for Red Bull’s continued success.
“Appointing him was the right decision,” Marko told Servus TV. “Given the complexity of Formula 1, having a technical expert at the top is probably the better solution.
“It’s now much more structured from a technical perspective. And when everything works together, and the driver is integrated into the process, you can see the results. The car isn’t fundamentally different, but with this level of coordination, we can deliver such performances.”
Looking Ahead to the Final Eight Races
With eight races remaining in the 2025 season, Marko is optimistic about Red Bull’s prospects. The next stop is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, followed by Singapore – a circuit where Verstappen has yet to claim victory.
“With the speed we’ve shown, we should hopefully be able to compete on our own merit at almost every circuit,” Marko added.
“Singapore would be special - it’s the only race we’ve never won. But maybe it’ll work out there too; we weren’t bad in Zandvoort [Verstappen finished second] either.
“We’re still fine-tuning and refining things. If we can keep improving like this, that would be fantastic. The championship is gone, but a few more wins would be very nice.”
Under Mekies’ guidance, Red Bull is undeniably rediscovering its edge. As the Milton Keynes-based outfit fine-tunes their approach and prepare for the 2026 era, the revitalized squad looks ready to reclaim its place at the front of the grid.
Read also: Mekies admits Red Bull 2026 engine gamble ‘as crazy as it gets’
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