Mekies facing scrutiny at Red Bull as doubts grow over leadership role

Since arriving in Milton Keynes last July, the Frenchman has done an impressive job in stepping into the void left by a figure of Christian Horner’s stature, guiding Red Bull back into the fight for the drivers’ title with Verstappen, despite the team trailing then-leader Piastri by over 100 points during the summer.

However, a difficult start to the 2026 season has once again cast a shadow over Red Bull, all the more so following the recent news of Lambiase’s departure, the latest key figure set to leave the team and join McLaren in 2027. Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher shared his views on Mekies, making it clear he rates him highly but does not see the team principal role as the best fit for his strengths, pointing instead to his ability to bring in top-level talent and build strong teams around him.

Speaking on the Drive to Wynn podcast, Steiner reflected on the wave of departures at Red Bull and the team’s dip in form at the start of 2026. He pointed to a mix of factors behind the situation, explaining that once the winning stopped, pressure quickly mounted on Horner, with criticism growing and uncertainty spreading across the team. That environment, he suggested, made it easier for key figures to look elsewhere, with Newey no longer fully committed and Wheatley among those to move on, alongside several other departures.

Steiner believes Mekies is now focused on stabilising the situation, describing him as a strong figure but one who will inevitably need time to make an impact. In his view, the issues built up over the past two years cannot be resolved in just a few months, and expecting a rapid turnaround would be unrealistic.

He added that Mekies is likely to reshape the structure by bringing in trusted personnel and investing in young talent to rebuild the team’s foundations. However, Steiner stressed that returning to the front will be a gradual process, with Red Bull unlikely to reclaim its dominant status in the immediate future.