
Former Formula 1 driver Sebastien Bourdais, who once raced under Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso, has spoken about the recent shake-up at Red Bull Racing. He acknowledged that losing Christian Horner mid-season is a major shift for the team, calling it a difficult situation. Despite this, Bourdais remains confident that the team is well-positioned to continue its success under new leadership.
Christian Horner was dismissed from his role as team principal after leading Red Bull for two decades. His departure came shortly after the midpoint of the 2025 F1 season. Laurent Mekies, previously the head of the Racing Bulls team, has been appointed as his replacement and will debut in his new role at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Bourdais, who earned points during his time with Toro Rosso in 2008 and 2009, was cautious in his comments but highlighted Horner’s major contributions to Red Bull. He noted the challenge of adjusting to such a major leadership change during an ongoing season and emphasized how such transitions can impact a team’s performance and morale.
While Horner’s exit marks the end of an era, Bourdais expressed strong support for Mekies, describing him as a competent leader familiar with the Red Bull organization. He believes Mekies’ character and experience will help guide the team through this period of transition. Mekies had only recently taken over as team principal at Racing Bulls in early 2024 before this promotion.
The Red Bull organization is undergoing broader internal changes. With Mekies moving up to the top job at Red Bull Racing, Alan Permane has now taken over as Racing Bulls team principal. As Red Bull adapts to these structural shifts, insiders and former drivers like Bourdais appear optimistic about the team’s ability to stay competitive moving forward.