P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has weighed in on how much Red Bull’s hiring of Laurent Mekies transformed the team last F1 season.
Guenther Steiner dismissed the notion that Red Bull’s late-season turnaround was “primarily” due to Laurent Mekies. He acknowledged that Mekies brought calm after a turbulent period under Christian Horner. Mekies was promoted after Horner’s departure following the British Grand Prix, ending his 20-year tenure. Internal politics and on-track performance issues had plagued Red Bull before Mekies’ appointment. Verstappen saw improved results post-Mekies, narrowly missing out on the drivers’ championship. Steiner believes Mekies’ impact was limited, emphasizing the team and car’s existing performance. The overall change in environment brought by Mekies helped Verstappen’s successful season finale.
