Formula 1 News of the Week

With no Grand Prix on the calendar this past weekend, the Formula 1 world has been dominated by off-track drama and high-level shakeups. The departure of Christian Horner sent shockwaves through the sport, while new leadership at both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls has taken center stage. Let’s break down the biggest headlines ahead of the return to action at the Belgian Grand Prix.

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🔥 Christian Horner Out at Red Bull: Formula 1’s Most Shocking Departure of the Season

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock, Christian Horner has stepped down as Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO with immediate effect. The announcement was confirmed late Monday by the team and swiftly followed by a farewell message from Horner himself, who said it had been “an honour” to serve for nearly two decades.

Horner’s exit brings an end to one of the most successful managerial tenures in Formula 1 history. Appointed in 2005 at the age of 31, Horner oversaw six Drivers’ Championships (including four with Sebastian Vettel and two with Max Verstappen) and five Constructors’ titles, transforming Red Bull from energy drink upstart to dominant F1 juggernaut. His leadership was marked by a sharp understanding of team dynamics, a fiery presence in the paddock, and a willingness to go head-to-head with rivals on and off the track.

Replacing Horner at the helm is Laurent Mekies, who returns to the Red Bull family as CEO following a stint with Scuderia AlphaTauri and a high-ranking role at Ferrari. Mekies brings strong technical and operational pedigree, but he inherits a team in flux. While Red Bull remains dominant on track, internal fractures—particularly following the investigation into Horner earlier this year—have raised questions about long-term stability.

Red Bull’s official statement was terse, but F1 insiders suggest the team’s decision stems from months of behind-the-scenes pressure. An internal review, tensions with senior management, and rumored discontent within the Verstappen camp are all part of a larger, more complicated puzzle. With Adrian Newey also set to leave at the end of the season, the team faces a massive leadership void heading into 2026 and the new regulations era.

What happens next? All eyes will now turn to how this change affects the rest of the 2025 campaign. Can Red Bull maintain its razor-sharp performance? Will Max Verstappen’s loyalty to the team be tested? And does Mekies have the political and strategic finesse to manage the storm?

This is more than just a team principal stepping down—it’s a seismic shift in the Formula 1 landscape.

🧭 Mekies Begins Red Bull Era: From Engineer to Team Boss

Just days after Christian Horner’s abrupt departure, Laurent Mekies officially stepped into his new role as CEO of Red Bull Racing, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the reigning Constructors’ Champions. Speaking from Milton Keynes after his first day on the job, Mekies acknowledged the weight of the moment and outlined his early priorities: stability, communication, and continuity.

“We have a fantastic team, and my job is to make sure we stay focused on delivering performance on track,” Mekies said in his first official remarks. “This team has a winning culture, and my role is to protect and enhance that moving forward.”

For Mekies, this appointment is the culmination of a long and varied F1 journey. He began as a race engineer at Arrows and Minardi before joining the FIA, where he worked closely on safety and sporting regulations. His next move was to Ferrari, where he rose to become Sporting Director, helping to guide the Scuderia through multiple transitions. Most recently, he was at the helm of what is now V-CARB (formerly AlphaTauri), giving him a deep familiarity with the Red Bull racing ecosystem.

His technical fluency and calm demeanor are expected to contrast with Horner’s often combative style. But don’t mistake his calmness for passivity—Mekies is a savvy political operator, and Red Bull’s internal culture will demand decisive leadership. With Adrian Newey departing at the end of the season and Max Verstappen’s long-term loyalty uncertain, Mekies must balance performance with diplomacy.

For now, his message is clear: no radical shakeups. He aims to “build on the momentum” already in place and keep the engineering and strategy teams laser-focused on retaining their edge as F1 enters the second half of the season.

One thing’s certain—all eyes will be on how Laurent Mekies handles his first Grand Prix weekend in charge. The Red Bull Ring in Austria, a track synonymous with Red Bull’s brand identity, will offer the perfect litmus test.

🛠️ Alan Permane Takes the Helm at V-CARB: A Veteran Returns to the Spotlight

BREAKING: Alan Permane appointed Team Principal of Racing Bulls#F1 pic.twitter.com/8OyJ1nI7i0
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 9, 2025

After months of behind-the-scenes speculation, Alan Permane has been officially named Team Principal of V-CARB, formerly AlphaTauri and now branded as Racing Bulls, becoming the latest experienced figure to step back into a leadership role on the Formula 1 grid.

For long-time F1 followers, Permane is no stranger. With a 34-year career spanning Benetton, Renault, Lotus, and Alpine, he was a constant presence on pit walls across generations of change. He played pivotal roles in the Fernando Alonso championship era and more recently helped guide Alpine through several strategic rebuilds—until his unexpected departure in 2023 as part of a broader management shakeup.

Now, with the Racing Bulls repositioning themselves as Red Bull’s performance-focused sister team, Permane’s appointment signals a desire for structure and experience. Known for his cool under pressure and no-nonsense race-day execution, he’ll be tasked with stabilizing a team that’s undergone major transformation—new identity, new facilities, and a growing emphasis on talent development for Red Bull Racing.

Permane’s brief is clear: optimize performance, shape young drivers, and serve as a reliable strategic partner to the main Red Bull squad. With Ayumu Iwasa and Isack Hadjar already making waves in feeder series, Racing Bulls’ evolution into a “mini Red Bull” is well underway—and Permane is expected to be a steadying hand in guiding it.

His return also completes a unique leadership shuffle across the Red Bull ecosystem: with Christian Horner gone and Laurent Mekies taking over at Red Bull Racing, Permane steps in to anchor the junior squad with veteran insight and a long-view approach. Don’t be surprised if Racing Bulls becomes a regular midfield threat before season’s end.

🛣️ What’s Next: Countdown to Spa-Francorchamps

With the dust still settling after one of the most dramatic leadership shakeups in recent Formula 1 history, the paddock now turns its gaze toward Spa-Francorchamps, where the championship resumes with the Belgian Grand Prix from July 25–27. Red Bull Racing enters this next chapter with fresh faces in charge and major questions still looming—will the team remain dominant, or will the shake-up ripple into on-track performance?

For fans, Belgium always delivers high-stakes drama and unpredictable weather. This year, it may also offer the first real glimpse of how the new power structure at Red Bull and Racing Bulls holds up under pressure.

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