Günther Steiner observes that Red Bull is ‘better off’ without Christian Horner as team principal. The Brit had to step down in favor of Laurent Mekies last July, and according to Steiner, things have been much calmer at the Austrian team since then. ‘Laurent is a good leader, and very calm,’ Steiner praises Horner’s French successor.
Christian Horner was informed shortly after his home race, the British Grand Prix, that his days as Red Bull team principal were numbered. The Brit had to make way for Laurent Mekies, who was then at the helm of sister team Racing Bulls. The Frenchman has now completed five race weekends as team principal for the Austrians. Former team principal Günther Steiner understands why Red Bull chose Mekies.
According to Steiner, Red Bull is ‘better off’ with Mekies at the helm instead of Horner. “Before Mekies was appointed, there was a different news story about the team every week,” the Italian tells the Red Flags podcast. “They all couldn’t get along well. And now they seem to be able to work together well again. I think Red Bull is better off without Horner.”
‘Red Bull is better off’
Despite the calmness in the team returning under Mekies, according to Steiner, he does not think the Frenchman is the reason for the recent surge of the racing stable. Max Verstappen won the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix in recent weeks. “I do not attribute the results of the last two races to Christian’s departure,” clarifies the former Haas team principal. “I just attribute it to the fact that there was dissatisfaction, but that has been the case in the team for a year and a half. And now it seems to be running smoothly. Laurent is a good leader, and very calm. He doesn’t play political games, he just does his job. Therefore, Red Bull is certainly not worse off, they are better off.”
