MEKIES SIGNS LONG-TERM CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH RED BULL

Red Bull locked down Laurent Mekies through 2031, giving the team long-term stability at the top after a turbulent stretch under the new regulations. Mekies, who stepped up from Racing Bulls last July, shepherded Red Bull through a rough start to 2026 that saw them fall behind rivals. The payoff came recently: back-to-back Verstappen wins in Malaysia and Singapore signal Red Bull's return to the sharp end.

The extension follows renewals for Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, building continuity across the driver lineup and leadership. Mekies emphasized the team's "free thinking, fast actions, bold decisions" ethos, while Red Bull brass praised his ability to maintain competitive spirit during transition. Technical director Pierre Wache and powertrain chief Ben Hodgkinson anchor the engineering side.

With the grid resetting under 2026 regs, Red Bull bet that steady hands—not another shakeup—will carry them back to sustained contention. The Malaysia-Singapore double suggests the gamble is already working.