Marko commends Mekies for his influence at Red Bull.

      "He's quite down-to-earth."

      Dr. Helmut Marko remarked that Laurent Mekies, Christian Horner’s successor as the head of Red Bull, has introduced a new approach to the team owned by the energy drink company. "On a personal level, he’s more dedicated to his work," the long-standing brand advisor shared with f1-insider.com. "In essence, what matters most to him is the success and leadership of the team."

      Horner’s departure earlier this year was attributed to increasing tensions with Red Bull’s shareholders, with speculation suggesting that his ambitions extended beyond just being team principal. Marko compared this to Mekies' style. "He's quite down-to-earth," the 82-year-old Austrian commented. "This has already become evident in discussions with the drivers, who this time are concentrating more on technical aspects. Yuki, in particular, has seen noticeable improvement during the race, or at least in qualifying.

      "So, there’s a distinct atmosphere, a different style, and that’s what Red Bull has consistently desired." Nonetheless, the reigning champions face a greater challenge regarding their driver lineup. Both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have found it difficult to keep pace with Max Verstappen, raising speculations about Tsunoda potentially leaving at the end of the season, with possibilities of juniors like Isack Hadjar or Arvid Lindblad stepping in for 2026.

      However, Marko maintains that the Japanese driver is not out of the picture. "Traditionally, we assess our drivers after the summer break and then decide on the lineup for the upcoming year, or sometimes even later. For now, everything remains open," the Austrian stated. "Simply put, Yuki still has an opportunity. We are currently evaluating performance. Hence, no definitive decisions, whether positive or negative, have been made."