Major changes at Racing Bulls after Mekies' departure? Hadjar responds!

12:50, 24 Jul

Updated: 15:44, 24 Jul

byCas van de Kleut

With Christian Horner's dismissal at Red Bull Racing, a lot has changed within the Austrian racing team and its sister team, Racing Bulls. Isack Hadjar discussed, among others with GPblog, what he thinks of the changes.

After Horner's dismissal, Laurent Mekies was promoted to team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing.

The Frenchman was previously the team principal at Racing Bulls for the past year and a half. Alan Permane, who was previously a racing director of the Faenza-based team, was named as Mekies' replacement.

Hadjar reacts to new team principal Alan Permane

Asked about the change, the French driver began: “I mean major but, to be fair it doesn't really change much for me at the moment. Alan is someone I know really well. Obviously, he was always quiet, and you don't see him often, but he was a big part of the team so far.”

He also explained he has a good relationship with Permane as well. “I think he's the one, next to my race engineer the one I've worked with the most. He's the guy with who takes the final decision on car setup and yes now it's been very close to Laurent. Laurent has built something very solid over the last two years and now just taking it so yeah, it doesn't change anything to the to the team and to my approach.”

Hadjar on Red Bull team principal Mekies

Hadjar was then asked about how Mekies was as a team principal. “French," he joked.

"That was good. I mean I think it's all to me it's always useful you know to work with someone who has an engineering background, so as a driver it's always more helpful. So yeah, we are really close together and he's still around [in the paddock].”

As team boss of Red Bull, Mekies is at the helm of a top team. So what are the characteristics that make him a good team boss at the Austrian racing stable? “I don't know,” Hadjar responded.

Hadjar is also tipped for a promotion to Red Bull Racing. Is Mekies being the team principal something beneficial for him. "If I had to work with him, that would be easier, that’s for sure. Something more familiar. I can't hide it, it's useful. For sure. But we'll see. 12 more races. So I need to keep pushing. You're as good as your last race all the time."

How did Racing Bulls react?

Hadjar was doing work in the simulator when the news came out. "I mean a bit of, if anything, for the engineers and mechanics, I think Laurent was really appreciated in the team. So a bit of sadness obviously, but we are not as concerned as Red Bull Racing. So nothing major, just a bit sad that he's leaving, but it’s how it is," he revealed.