Overview
- Helmut Marko justified Christian Horner’s July 9 dismissal as a response to a sustained performance slump that left Red Bull fourth in the constructors’ standings.
- Laurent Mekies officially replaced Horner two weeks ago and now concentrates exclusively on racing duties, with technical and commercial responsibilities reassigned.
- Mekies has already tweaked simulator preparations ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps as part of early measures to lift on-track competitiveness.
- Max Verstappen trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 68 points this season, underscoring the urgency behind Red Bull’s organizational overhaul.
- Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle suggested that an internal power struggle over Red Bull’s commercial control also influenced Horner’s removal.