P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“Within a short period of time, one hears that the mood is completely different, the approach is different…”
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher stated that the atmosphere at Red Bull has shifted significantly following the replacement of Christian Horner with Laurent Mekies. The upcoming Belgian Grand Prix will mark Red Bull’s first race without Horner at the helm. Horner had been the team principal since 2005, guiding them to championship victories with Sebastian Vettel and overseeing Max Verstappen’s successes from 2021 to 2024. Red Bull’s decision to part ways with Horner came amidst declining on-track performance and speculation about Verstappen’s future in F1. Schumacher supported Red Bull’s move to appoint Mekies, noting a positive impact on team morale and dynamics. Toto Wolff indicated that the focus for Mercedes is on retaining George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, suggesting that Max Verstappen is now likely to remain at Red Bull for the 2026 season.
