Born on April 28, 1977, in Tours, France, Laurent Mekies is now the second team boss in Red Bull Formula 1 history at the age of 48. He succeeded Christian Horner, who led the team for two decades before his sudden departure in July during the season. Mekies, an aerodynamics engineer, started his career in motorsport over 25 years ago at Asiatech in Formula 3 and later moved to Formula 1 with Arrows and Minardi, working with drivers like Mark Webber and Justin Wilson.
Upon Toro Rosso’s formation in 2006, Mekies became the chief engineer and held the position for almost a decade before joining the FIA in 2014. Playing a crucial role in safety and regulations, he later left for Ferrari, where he served as a key figure until returning to Red Bull to head the Racing Bulls outfit in 2024. Mekies’ multi-faceted background and managerial skills have been crucial in his various roles across different Formula 1 teams, setting the stage for his current challenge at Red Bull amidst significant organizational changes and challenges within the team and the sport as a whole.
