Red Bull enters a new era after Horner.

      "Mekies' duties will be greatly diminished."

      With Jos Verstappen returning to the Spa-Francorchamps paddock and ongoing speculation, Red Bull is entering a new phase following the unexpected dismissal of Christian Horner. The team has mostly kept quiet about the specifics of Horner's abrupt removal after 20 years at the helm. However, prominent figures such as F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Dr. Helmut Marko are starting to speak out, while new team principal Laurent Mekies starts his role with several restrictions.

      Domenicali remarked to Corriere della Sera, "You can’t be a boss forever. He’s left a legacy and achieved significant victories. This choice will have ramifications for sports and market operations, leading to changes in personnel. Everything is in flux; no one should assume that their positions are guaranteed by divine right."

      Marko pointed out that the decision was made by Red Bull GmbH CEO Oliver Mintzlaff shortly after the Silverstone event. "We communicated this to Christian Horner on Tuesday in London following the Silverstone race and simultaneously expressed our gratitude for his 20 years and the eight world championship titles," Marko stated in Spa. "This outcome was due to various reasons, primarily the team's performance not being as strong. Fortunately, we were able to bring Laurent Mekies from the family."

      "His role will be notably reduced, with the primary focus being on racing," he added.

      Rumors suggest that Horner's removal may have stemmed from a conflict involving Max Verstappen's camp. Reports indicate that Horner was aiming to enforce Verstappen's full contract until 2028, while Jos Verstappen and manager Raymond Vermeulen were advocating for more independence to leave after 2026, particularly due to interest from Mercedes.

      However, Marko dismissed the notion that the Verstappens influenced Horner's dismissal. "That's complete nonsense," the 82-year-old stated. "This decision came from the parent company's management, and no one else." He clarified that Mintzlaff, Chalerm Yoovidhya, and Mark Mateschitz were instrumental in the decision.

      De Telegraaf reported that Yoovidhya, who previously had controlling interest in Red Bull, had supported Horner for quite some time but recently sold 2 percent of his stake, aligning ownership with the Mateschitz family. The article suggests that Yoovidhya ultimately endorsed change "to enhance the chances of Verstappen remaining."

      While Verstappen has not yet confirmed his long-term intentions, he mentioned to Sky Italia on Friday: "My goal is to stay at Red Bull. There's no need for a definitive response right now; improvements should be made. We hope to close the gap to McLaren."

      Mekies, now at the helm, asserted that the mission remains the same. "I don’t think there’s any doubt about what Red Bull F1 aims to achieve," he stated. "Our goal is to compete for victories and championships. That’s the objective for the immediate future. Is there anyone with a contract ensuring they stay forever? No, I don’t have that either. But that’s fairly standard in Formula 1."

      Regarding the duration of his role, Mekies was non-committal. "I'm unsure how much I can disclose," he said. "We didn’t delve into the reasons behind this decision, but they outlined the objectives they have for the team going forward."

      When asked about retaining Verstappen past 2026, Mekies remarked: "In terms of priority, I believe Max desires a competitive car. If we can provide him with one, that would address all other factors."

      Reports indicate that Red Bull Austria feels relieved with Horner's situation resolved, with De Telegraaf noting a "large delegation from the Austrian department" present at Spa. The publication mentioned that "there had been considerable tensions with Horner at the center, as they felt he was attempting to accumulate too much power following the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz."

      Mekies is reportedly well-regarded by both the Austrian board and Verstappen himself. "He has strong support from several team members, the Austrian elite, and Verstappen," De Telegraaf wrote. "That’s a solid foundation. He’ll focus more on the racing team and less on secondary issues."

      However, there are whispers from Milton Keynes suggesting that Horner's loyalists may soon leave. "We have no information regarding this," Marko responded when questioned about potential departures.

      For now, Mekies’ authority will be limited. "We’ll allow him time," Marko mentioned to Kleine Zeitung. "At present, he can only proceed with the existing program."