Red Bull has officially appointed Gwen Lagrue as Director of its Junior Programme from the 2027 Formula 1 season. The former Mercedes talent scout will effectively inherit the responsibilities held by Helmut Marko for more than two decades, taking charge of identifying and developing Red Bull’s next generation of drivers.
Red Bull confirmed the appointment immediately after Mercedes announced that it would part company with Gwen Lagrue. He will first have to complete a period of gardening leave, as is customary when senior personnel move between Formula 1 teams, before beginning his new role at Milton Keynes.
Gwen Lagrue to lead Red Bull junior programme from 2027
The Englishman spent approximately a decade at Mercedes, helping to develop both of the team’s current race drivers, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, through its academy. Andrea Kimi Antonelli has since emerged as a leading figure in Formula 1, with his latest podium strengthening his position at the top of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings.
Gwen Lagrue will now become the head of the Red Bull Junior Programme, assuming a position broadly equivalent to the one Helmut Marko occupied for 20 years. The programme has been central to Red Bull’s approach to Formula 1, supplying drivers to both its senior team and Racing Bulls while creating pathways from junior categories to the top level of motorsport.
Laurent Mekies pays tribute to Helmut Marko
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies used the official announcement to recognise Helmut Marko’s contribution after the Austrian left the team at the end of last season.
“Gwen is one of the very best talent developers in F1 and I know first-hand the expertise, leadership and passion he brings to developing young drivers,” Laurent Mekies said. “The Red Bull Junior Programme has always been a cornerstone of Red Bull’s success, and having Gwen lead it soon reflects the importance we continue to place on developing the next generation of F1 talent.”
Laurent Mekies also underlined the scale of the legacy Gwen Lagrue will inherit at Milton Keynes.
“We want to recognise once again today the extraordinary contribution Helmut Marko has made over more than two decades creating and leading the Junior Programme,” the Red Bull team principal added. “The Junior Programme has become the benchmark in F1 because of his vision, commitment and ability to identify and develop exceptional talents, and he deserves enormous credit for that.
“As we continue to build the next chapter of Red Bull, attracting leaders of Gwen’s calibre is fundamental to achieving our ambitions. We’re strengthening our organisation with outstanding people in every part of the business, and Gwen is an important addition to that journey. Together, we will build on an incredibly strong foundation while continuing to evolve the programme for the future.”
The appointment comes as Red Bull continues to evaluate the long-term development of drivers emerging through its system, including those capable of becoming future leaders of the senior team.
Gwen Lagrue begins a new chapter after Mercedes
Gwen Lagrue described his move to Red Bull as the beginning of an exciting new stage in his career after 11 years with Mercedes.
“Joining Red Bull marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for me,” Gwen Lagrue said. “After eleven memorable years at Mercedes, I felt this was the right moment to take on a new challenge and continue growing personally and professionally.
“The Red Bull Junior Programme is one of the most respected and successful driver development programmes in motorsport. It has produced some of the greatest talents F1 has ever seen, and it is a real honour to have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of people and help shape its next chapter.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with Laurent as well as the entire team and I am very thankful for this opportunity.”
Red Bull targets its next F1 race winners and champions
Gwen Lagrue’s work with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli was an important part of Mercedes’ driver-development structure. Both progressed through the team’s academy before reaching its Formula 1 line-up, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli continuing to demonstrate that progress by extending his championship lead in Hungary.
Red Bull will expect Gwen Lagrue to apply that experience to a junior programme that has already produced numerous Grand Prix winners and World Champions.
“Together, we have a fantastic framework to build on the programme’s remarkable legacy, continue to evolve it for the future, and identify, develop and prepare the next generation of F1 race winners and World Champions, following a pattern Red Bull has successfully repeated over the past 20 years,” Gwen Lagrue concluded.
Leave a Reply