Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner credited Red Bull's Laurent Mekies with the team's recovery following Christian Horner's exit in July 2025. Mekies replaced Horner as CEO and team principal after a period of key personnel departures including Adrian Newey, Helmut Marko and Jonathan Wheatley.
Steiner praised Mekies for his calm leadership style during Red Bull's transition to their own power units developed with Ford alongside 2026 regulation changes. The team currently sits fourth in the constructors' championship but achieved a milestone when Max Verstappen secured their first win of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner emphasized Mekies' ability to ignore outside criticism and work steadily through challenges. He noted that Mekies inherited a team somewhat out of control but brought it back through consistent, professional leadership without ego involvement.
Steiner highlighted Mekies' extensive Formula 1 experience across different roles as crucial for handling pressure and making sound decisions. He described the Frenchman's approach as staying calm, never overreacting, and shutting out external noise while focusing on doing his best work for the team.