Overview

• Laurent Mekies made his debut as Red Bull team principal at Spa with a streamlined mandate focused on racing operations and secured a sprint victory.
• Christian Horner marked his first absence in 406 races by posting an Instagram video of himself horseback riding with the caption “Different horse power this Sunday.”
• Helmut Marko said managing director Oliver Mintzlaff dismissed Horner over performance concerns and appointed Mekies with reduced authority.
• Max Verstappen insisted the leadership change will not affect his decision to stay at Red Bull, even as unconfirmed reports link him to Mercedes via a release clause.
• Mekies used his first race weekend to integrate into team processes and address operational challenges after a late pit stop cost Yuki Tsunoda key positions at Spa.