Red Bull Racing faces internal tensions and performance slump under new team principal Laurent Mekies

Christian Horner, former Red Bull team principal, revealed in recent interviews that the squad experienced internal confrontations, notably surrounding former driver Sergio "Checo" Pérez. Horner said he made it clear to Pérez about his role and hinted at a demanding environment that could breed conflict within the team.

A year after Horner’s departure, Laurent Mekies took over as team principal and CEO. Under his leadership Red Bull has slipped to fourth place in the 2026 constructors’ championship, far behind Mercedes. The team’s 2026 RB22 car is lagging in performance, and Max Verstappen has fallen to seventh in the drivers’ standings, prompting speculation about his future and exploratory talks with McLaren. Mekies has acknowledged the challenges of integrating the new Red Bull PowerTrains‑Ford power unit and the impact of a significant exodus of senior staff, including chief designer Craig Skinner and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

Despite the setbacks, Red Bull remains competitive in individual races, with drivers such as Isack Hadjar delivering strong finishes. The organisation continues a broader internal restructuring aimed at long‑term rejuvenation, while the F1 community watches closely how the leadership change and performance issues will affect the championship battle.