Source: REUTERS/Manon Cruz
[Saba Sports News] The leadership shake-up at Red Bull Racing has sent ripples throughout the F1 paddock. With Christian Horner’s departure and Laurent Mekies taking over as team principal, many believe this marks the end of Red Bull’s era of “all-out defense” of Max Verstappen. Over the past few years, Horner’s aggressive approach shaped Red Bull’s combative public image. Whether Verstappen was at fault or not, Horner would swiftly appear at press conferences armed with printed telemetry data, onboard footage, and even diagrams to fiercely defend the team and its star driver. From Verstappen’s clash with Lando Norris at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix to the onboard video released during the 2024 Saudi overtaking controversy, Horner never missed a chance to wage a war of words. However, this dynamic seems poised to change. Mekies’ leadership style contrasts sharply with Horner’s—more measured and pragmatic. Upon taking office, Mekies emphasized that his priority was to “listen to the team and understand its dynamics” rather than engage in debates over race penalties or media battles. Observers speculate that this signals a shift for Red Bull, moving away from its “defend Verstappen at all costs” approach toward a more rational, team-oriented philosophy. In our view, the days of Red Bull’s “double down even when Verstappen is wrong” culture may well be over.