Mercedes respond after Red Bull sign high-profile figure

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has responded to the Silver Arrows losing high-profile figure Gwen Lagrue to Red Bull.

RacingNews365 learned ahead of Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix that Red Bull has signed Lagrue as the new head of its driver development programme.

Lagrue has held the same position at Mercedes for several years, overseeing the development of the likes of Esteban Ocon, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli on their journeys to Formula 1.

The Frenchman has also guided Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti through the junior ranks and into his current role with the Silver Arrows.

It is a major addition for Red Bull, with the signing of Lagrue representing the first under the Laurent Mekies era at the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Mekies and Lagrue know each other well, and the move is a clear sign of Red Bull's intent to attract top talent going forward.

While Wolff did not confirm whether Lagrue is joining the Austrian outfit, he did reveal that Mercedes is discussing the Frenchman's future.

Addressing the Lagrue story, Wolff told select media, including RacingNews365: "Yeah, we're in discussions with Gwen about the future, but nothing's been agreed or decided yet. 

"Gwen has built up a fantastic team. We have about seven, eight or nine people running the junior programme going forward, along with a handful of juniors, and with Bradley [Lord] stepping up as deputy team principal. 

"These things need to be worked out now. We want to do it together with Gwen, and then we'll see."