Zak Brown praises Laurent Mekies: “He has done an excellent job, he’s a great leader”. McLaren CEO Zak Brown praises Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies for his leadership.

Brown praises Mekies: “He has done an excellent job, he’s a great leader”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown highlighted the impressive capabilities of Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies, noting the positive impact he has had on the team since taking charge in mid-2025.

The new Team Principal

The 2025 championship was, in many ways, a ‘revolutionary’ season for Red Bull, at least in terms of team management. After twenty years at Milton Keynes, Christian Horner was relieved of his role as Team Principal, with the position handed over to Laurent Mekies midway through the season. Up to that point, Red Bull had experienced disappointing results, but with the arrival of the French engineer, the team returned to serious contention for the Drivers’ Championship, ultimately won by Lando Norris in the final race by just a two-point margin over Max Verstappen.

The new philosophy

Mekies’ approach, which included continuing car development during the last season, has been particularly praised by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, especially for how the former Ferrari engineer renewed the team culture following the challenges under Christian Horner. According to Zak Brown, this culture is also a key strength for McLaren: “Laurent has done an excellent job,” he explained to GPBlog. “Culture—whether in sport, business, or life—is fundamental, and I believe it has been our greatest strength. I am obsessed with our people and our corporate culture. This is where I dedicate all my time. Red Bull is an incredible team, but it was clear where stress was building in the system, and performance started to drop. Laurent arrived, I think he’s a great leader, and performance immediately improved. So I believe corporate culture is essential in any activity.”

McLaren’s revival

During the same interview, Brown reflected on how “shocked by the arrogance” he was when he joined McLaren in 2016. At that time, he witnessed team leaders placing too much blame on the Honda engine for the difficulties encountered. The subsequent appointment of Andrea Stella as Team Principal in 2022 helped relaunch the team, leading to two Constructors’ Championships and one Drivers’ Championship with Lando Norris.

As the 2026 season begins, the rivalry between McLaren and a resurgent Red Bull under Laurent Mekies is set to be one of the most compelling narratives on the grid. Brown’s comments highlight a mutual respect for leadership that prioritizes human capital over pure technical data. With both teams now operating under stable, culture-focused management, the battle for supremacy in this new technical era will likely be decided by which “great leader” can best maintain harmony and innovation under the intense pressure of a 24-race calendar.