The new era of leadership under team principal Laurent Mekies has begun on a positive note for Red Bull at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix held at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The weekend got off to a strong start when Max Verstappen secured an unexpected victory in the Sprint Race, defying predictions and showcasing impressive pace in tricky conditions. This performance was followed by another encouraging result: both Red Bull Racing cars successfully advanced to Q3 during qualifying, achieving a milestone that the team had not reached in several races.
While it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions about the long-term impact of Laurent Mekies’ management approach, there are already signs that he is beginning to challenge some of the old structures and traditional mindsets within the team. His decisions are subtly shaping a new direction for the Red Bull organization.
One noteworthy example of Laurent Mekies’ evolving strategy is his growing focus on Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, whom he had previously worked closely with during their time together at the Racing Bulls team. Mekies appears to be showing a renewed commitment to supporting Tsunoda’s progress within the Red Bull setup, and his efforts were evident during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
Originally, the team’s latest technical updates were only planned for Max Verstappen’s car. However, Laurent Mekies pushed internally to ensure that Yuki Tsunoda would also benefit from the same package. Thanks to last-minute deliveries from the factory, extra upgrade components arrived just in time during the race weekend. After some rapid assessment and discussions between the engineers, the team ultimately decided to take a calculated risk by fitting the new parts to Tsunoda’s RB car as well.
The updates were installed on Yuki Tsunoda’s car only shortly before the start of the qualifying session, resulting in a very late appearance on the track. Despite the time constraints and the inherent risks of implementing new components without extensive testing, the gamble proved to be successful. Speaking to the media after qualifying, Laurent Mekies explained the decision: “We fitted the new upgrades to Yuki’s car just before the qualifying session began, which is why we sent him out at the very last moment. It was definitely a risk, but it paid off—especially since it allowed his performance level to improve significantly.”
This technical decision not only helped Yuki Tsunoda extract more performance from his car, but it also highlighted a more inclusive and ambitious approach to team development. Mekies’ willingness to extend crucial performance updates to both drivers—rather than favoring only Max Verstappen—demonstrates a shift toward a more balanced and competitive internal dynamic.
With both Red Bull drivers now back in Q3, the mood within the garage has shifted. Although there is still work to be done to return to consistent podium contention, the encouraging results at Spa suggest that the team is moving in a promising direction under Laurent Mekies’ leadership. The bold decision to implement upgrades on Tsunoda’s car at the last minute could very well serve as a blueprint for more daring strategies as the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds.
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