Mercedes has officially confirmed the departure of Gwen Lagrue after 10 years at Brackley, ending his influential spell at the head of the team’s young driver programme. The man who helped develop George Russell and Kimi Antonelli is set to join Red Bull once his period of gardening leave has ended.
After numerous rumours in recent weeks, the separation between Gwen Lagrue and Mercedes has now been made official. It represents a significant departure for the Brackley-based team because Lagrue was the driving force behind the Mercedes Junior Programme and played a central role in building its current Formula 1 driver line-up.
Gwen Lagrue leaves Mercedes after developing Russell and Antonelli
Over many years, Gwen Lagrue helped nurture the two drivers who now race for Mercedes in Formula 1. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are products of the Silver Arrows’ young driver system, having been developed internally with patience and careful management.
Kimi Antonelli’s progression from the junior ranks has ultimately taken him to the forefront of Formula 1, with the Italian recently strengthening his championship position through a crucial Hungarian Grand Prix podium.
Lagrue joined Mercedes in January 2016 after running Lotus’s young driver programme between 2009 and 2015. His work at Brackley subsequently helped George Russell and Kimi Antonelli progress through the junior categories and eventually become the team’s full-time Formula 1 drivers.
Gwen Lagrue set to join Red Bull after gardening leave
Once his period of gardening leave has ended, Gwen Lagrue’s next chapter will be with Red Bull. He is effectively expected to inherit Helmut Marko’s role in overseeing the organisation and development of the team’s young talents.
The appointment will place Lagrue at the heart of a junior programme that has played an important role in Red Bull’s Formula 1 identity. His arrival also comes as the team considers the longer-term development of drivers such as Isack Hadjar, who has been identified as a potential future leader of Red Bull’s F1 project.
Mercedes pays tribute to departing academy chief
Mercedes marked Gwen Lagrue’s departure with a dedicated message on social media, thanking him for the contribution he made to the team and its driver development structure.
“Thank you, Gwen. It has been a wonderful journey together,” Mercedes wrote. “Together, we have developed many young drivers, including our current F1 drivers George and Kimi, and you have made an extraordinary contribution.”
“We created a true successor to the original Mercedes-Benz junior team, and you leave behind a talented group ready to continue this work. Professional relationships may come to an end, but we will always remain friends, united by a shared vision. We wish you all the best for your next challenge.”
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