Red Bull extend Laurent Mekies contract through 2031

Red Bull have extended Laurent Mekies’ contract as team principal until the end of 2031, BBC Sport reported. The agreement keeps the Frenchman in charge beyond the expiry of Max Verstappen’s recently renewed deal and follows an improvement in the Formula 1 team’s results after a difficult start to the 2026 season.

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Mekies took over in the summer of 2025 following the dismissal of Christian Horner, who had led Red Bull for 20 years. His extension comes during a stronger run for the team, whose car improvements have helped Verstappen secure dominant victories in Malaysia and Singapore, the two most recent races, according to the BBC report.

Red Bull’s main shareholders, Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, linked the decision to Mekies’ handling of the transition. In a statement carried by BBC Sport, they credited him with preserving the organisation’s competitive approach while leading it through that change. They said the longer agreement demonstrated their trust in his leadership and support for the team’s long-term direction, adding that they wanted to build on its recent momentum.

The leadership commitment follows a separate agreement with Verstappen less than two months earlier. The driver extended his contract by two years, taking it through the end of 2030, after uncertainty about his future. Mekies’ new term therefore runs a year beyond Verstappen’s, with both agreements now stretching well beyond the current campaign.

Oliver Mintzlaff, who oversees Red Bull’s Formula 1 programme as chief executive of corporate projects and investments, also backed Mekies. He praised the team principal’s technical knowledge, strategic judgement and understanding of the organisation. In comments reported by the BBC, Mintzlaff emphasised leadership continuity as an important element in maintaining success, alongside the teamwork and competitive determination he associated with Mekies.

Mekies expressed pride in continuing with Red Bull Racing and thanked Yoovidhya, Mateschitz, Mintzlaff and the wider team for supporting the project. He focused on the collective effort within the organisation, saying its people’s commitment to a shared objective made the team distinctive and that he valued working with them.