Steiner Praises Mekies for Bringing Red Bull Back from the Brink
Former Haas team principal credits the Frenchman’s calm leadership and experience for restoring stability amid senior departures and mounting pressure.
Günther Steiner has praised Laurent Mekies for his leadership at Red Bull Racing, crediting the Frenchman with helping restore the team’s competitiveness after a turbulent period marked by senior departures, internal challenges and growing scrutiny.
The former Haas team principal believes Mekies’ composed approach has been instrumental in stabilising the Milton Keynes operation, particularly at a time when questions were being raised about Red Bull’s direction and its ability to recover from the loss of several influential figures.
Mekies succeeded Christian Horner as Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal in July 2025, taking charge of an organisation that had experienced a series of high-profile departures, including Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.
According to Steiner, the scale of the challenge facing Mekies should not be underestimated.
A calm approach in a turbulent environment
« He inherited a team that was a little out of control, » Steiner said.
Rather than responding to the pressure with confrontation or dramatic changes in attitude, Mekies maintained a measured approach, something Steiner believes proved crucial.
« Good old Laurent just managed the situation, always friendly, always smiling, always polite. He never threw a tantrum when Max Verstappen was shouting, ‘This is not acceptable.' »
Steiner highlighted the contrast between the criticism surrounding Red Bull and the way Mekies continued to manage the team without becoming distracted by the uncertainty.
« He just kept working. Some people left, somebody said, ‘This team is going nowhere,’ and things like that. And guess what? He brought it back to the top. »
For Steiner, the team’s subsequent success represents a significant endorsement of Mekies’ management style.
« Everybody was just criticising, ‘Oh, Christian is gone…’ But he came in without an ego and just did a solid, good job. They won a race quite dominantly, so credit to him. »
Experience and composure behind Red Bull’s recovery
Steiner believes Mekies’ greatest strengths lie in his extensive Formula 1 experience and his ability to remain focused when external pressure intensifies.
Having held a variety of senior positions throughout his career, Mekies has developed the perspective needed to manage difficult situations without overreacting, according to the former Haas boss.
« It’s his experience because he’s worked everywhere, and the fact that he stays calm. He never overreacts, always finds a way to approach a problem if there is one, and simply blocks out the outside noise, which is an art in itself because it gets on your nerves. »
Steiner suggested that Mekies’ philosophy is built around concentrating on the work rather than allowing criticism or expectations to dictate his decisions.
« Over the years, Laurent has simply said to himself, ‘I do my best. I don’t let the outside noise disturb me. I just do my job, and if it works, great. If it doesn’t, we’ll see what happens next.' »
That mindset, Steiner believes, reflects the experience Mekies has accumulated across different roles in Formula 1.
« He can draw on a lot of experience. He’s held many positions throughout his life in F1. »
Leadership without the spotlight
Steiner’s assessment places particular emphasis on Mekies’ ability to lead without allowing personal ego or external criticism to interfere with the team’s work.
While Red Bull’s recent resurgence has brought renewed attention to its on-track performance, Steiner believes the stability provided by Mekies deserves recognition.
For the former Haas team principal, the Frenchman’s achievement is not simply about securing results. It is about guiding an organisation through a difficult transition while maintaining the composure needed to move forward.
In Steiner’s view, Mekies has demonstrated that effective Formula 1 leadership does not always require confrontation or dramatic gestures. Sometimes, the most important contribution is to remain calm, stay focused and allow the work to deliver results.
