Red Bull extend team principal Laurent Mekies' contract until end of 2031

Red Bull have extended the contract of Formula One team principal Laurent Mekies until the end of 2031. BBC Sport and Reuters both report the extension.

Red Bull's two main shareholders, Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, issued a statement about the extension expressing confidence in Mekies' leadership, according to BBC Sport.

According to Reuters, the extension was announced on Wednesday. Vocemundi reviewed only a summary of the Reuters report. That summary describes the deal as running "until at least" the end of 2031. BBC Sport says it runs until the end of 2031. The reports do not explain whether the contract includes options beyond 2031.

Background

According to BBC Sport, Mekies has led the team since replacing Christian Horner. Horner was sacked in the summer of 2025 after 20 years in charge, BBC Sport reports.

BBC Sport says Red Bull had a difficult start to the 2026 season and has since improved its car. According to BBC Sport, Max Verstappen won the last two races, in Malaysia and Singapore.

BBC Sport also reports that Verstappen extended his own Red Bull contract by two years, to the end of 2030, less than two months before Mekies' extension. This followed a period of uncertainty over his future.

According to BBC Sport, Oliver Mintzlaff is in charge of the Red Bull F1 programme as chief executive officer of corporate projects and investments.

What each side says

In a statement attributed to Yoovidhya and Mateschitz, quoted by BBC Sport, the shareholders said: "Laurent has played a crucial role in guiding the team through an important period of transition while maintaining the competitive spirit and the Red Bull principles that define us." They added: "This extension reflects our confidence in his leadership and our shared belief in the long-term vision of the team."

BBC Sport quoted Mintzlaff as saying: "Laurent has demonstrated outstanding leadership since returning to the Red Bull family." He also said: "Continuity in leadership is a key ingredient for sustained success."

BBC Sport quoted Mekies as saying: "I am incredibly proud to continue this journey with Red Bull Racing." He thanked the shareholders, Mintzlaff and the team for their trust.

According to BBC Sport, Horner said in an interview with the Times that Red Bull had "lost its mojo, its presence, its vibe". BBC Sport reports that Verstappen's two victories came after that interview. The reports do not suggest that one caused the other.

What the reports do not include

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include the financial or other terms of the extension. They do not describe the length or end date of Mekies' previous contract. They do not include Red Bull's original announcement, only statements quoted by BBC Sport. They do not describe any response from Horner to the extension.

Analysis

The extension follows a period of change at Red Bull. That period included a leadership change in 2025 and, according to BBC Sport, a difficult start to the 2026 season. With Verstappen also reported to be under contract to the end of 2030, the team appears to be signalling stability, and its own statements stress continuity. Whether this translates into sustained results is not yet known. It may depend on car performance and on factors not covered in the reports. Horner's reported criticism shows that views on the team's direction differ. The undisclosed terms leave open questions about how binding the 2031 date is.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.