New Era Begins for Red Bull at Spa-Francorchamps. Verstappen Aims for Victory Under Laurent Mekies’ Leadership
July 24, 2025: The Formula One paddock descends upon the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit this weekend for the Belgian Grand Prix, marking a pivotal new chapter for Red Bull Racing as they embark on their first race without long-serving team principal Christian Horner at the helm. Horner was unexpectedly dismissed two weeks ago after 20 years, during which he led Red Bull to eight drivers’ championships (including Max Verstappen’s four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024) and six constructors’ championships.
The departure of the 51-year-old Briton ends an 18-month period of speculation and drama for Red Bull, which included an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct against Horner (which he denied and was twice exonerated), the team losing the constructors’ title to McLaren in 2024, and the departure of key staff members.
Taking over the formidable task of leading Red Bull is Frenchman Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from the junior team Racing Bulls. Mekies, an engineer known for his non-confrontational approach, faces the challenge of maintaining the team’s focus and performance at the high-speed Ardennes circuit while bringing stability to the team.
Max Verstappen, born in Belgium and linked with a move to Mercedes for 2026, has welcomed Mekies. In a team release that notably made no mention of Horner’s exit, Verstappen expressed his eagerness to work closely with Mekies, calling Spa “a classic and always my favourite track on the calendar.” He added, “I enjoy the high-speed corners such as Eau Rouge, the unique layout, and the elevation changes that make the track more of a challenge to drive.”
After a disappointing fifth-place finish at Silverstone, starting from pole position, Verstappen aims to secure his fourth career win at Spa. He is currently a distant third in the championship standings, trailing the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Piastri holds an eight-point lead over Norris, who is striving for his third consecutive win. Their intense internal rivalry could prove to be a double-edged sword for McLaren. Piastri, after an outburst over a 10-second penalty at Silverstone, is expected to be in a combative mood for the Belgian and Hungarian double-header before the August summer break.
Mercedes’ George Russell will also be looking to showcase his speed in Spa’s often unpredictable conditions, having lost last year’s victory due to his car being underweight. That handed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton his 105th and most recent win. Hamilton is still seeking his first podium with Ferrari, who arrive in Belgium with a significant upgrade package and high hopes.
At his home British race, Hamilton finished fourth, while Nico Hulkenberg secured his first career podium on his 239th attempt, highlighting Sauber’s progress this year before they transition to the Audi works team next season.
Mekies stated he would spend his first weeks “meeting the guys and girls who do the magic behind the scenes…to try to understand this beautiful magic machine,” with his first real test being Saturday morning’s sprint race.