Red Bull’s top executive, Helmut Marko, emphasizes a noticeable shift within Red Bull Racing since the departure of Christian Horner and the appointment of his successor, Laurent Mekies. According to the 82-year-old senior advisor, there is now ‘a completely different atmosphere’ within the team, which includes four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
“Mekies is a top technician, which is a huge advantage given the complexity of current Formula 1. He gets along well with people, there’s a completely different atmosphere than before,” Marko states in a conversation with Austrian oe24.
Christian Horner warned shortly before his dismissal that Red Bull could face difficulties in 2026 with the introduction of the new engine regulations in Formula 1. However, Helmut Marko remains optimistic: “If you look at the experience of our competitors, that’s true. But I say: we’ll see. The subject is so complex that under the new rules anything is possible. There will be huge surprises, both positive and negative. I choose to remain positive for now.”
