New Red Bull boss highlights 'impossible' feeling following Christian Horner axe

New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies believes it is "impossible to underestimate the size" of Christian Horner's success with Red Bull after stepping into his shoes.

Horner's sacking after 20 years at the helm has paved the way for Mekies to step across from his team principal role at Racing Bulls and take up the reins vacated by the Briton.

It is a mammoth undertaking for Frenchman Mekies after Horner guided the team from being nothing more than "a fizzy drinks company", as it was once disparagingly described in its early years, to an F1 powerhouse that won 14 titles - eight drivers and six constructors.

Following his appointment last week, Mekies initially declared that it "still feels a bit unreal to be here and not to see him", referring to Horner.

Reflecting on Horner's success, he added: "It is impossible to underestimate the size of the achievement that this team has had under 20 years of Christian's leadership.

"I met him 20 years ago when he was the youngest team principal in Formula 1, and it's unbelievable to see how he has taken this place to the level at which it is now, and in that journey, the many, many titles and wins."

Mekies also recognised it was Horner who was instrumental in his appointment at Racing Bulls, then VCARB, after joining at the start of 2024, after five years at Ferrari, where he served as deputy team principal and racing director.

"Christian is also the guy that, together with Helmut [Marko] and Oliver [Mintzlaff, the CEO of parent company Red Bull GmbH] brought me back into the Red Bull family two years ago," he said.

Red Bull facing 'incredible challenge'

In trying to hit the ground running, Mekies is facing the difficult task of coming in at exactly the halfway point of the season, with Red Bull out of the running in the constructors' championship, and Max Verstappen facing a very difficult task to retain his drivers' title.

Red Bull is also in the throes of building up to the new regulations for next season, made even more complicated by the fact that it is constructing its own power units for the first time in its history.

Although with a better overview of Red Bull than any newcomer, given his previous 18 months within the Red Bull family, Mekies appreciates what is at stake, although with no doubt he has a team of people he feels are "the very best in the world".

He added: "Even from being a competitor previously, you look at Red Bull Racing as being the sharpest team, having managed to accumulate the best talent to work together. They are the best at what they do.

"It is a privilege to join the team, with the focus on making sure all the talented people here have what they need to perform at their best, because they are already the very best. We will be focusing on that and making sure the Red Bull energy is flowing through the team.

"We are not underestimating the challenge ahead. Formula 1 is facing probably the biggest change of regulations in its history, and it has a very particular taste for Red Bull as we go with our own power unit.

"It's going to be an incredible challenge, and we will need everybody. We will go about it together, and I am sure with everyone’s contribution, we will tackle this challenge."