Laurent Mekies was there early on the press conference sofa in Christian Horner’s old seat. He smiled broadly like the chat who had got the creme, which in a sense he has.
The Frenchman was fluent — no Inspector Clouseau here. He was nimble of mind, and betrayed no nerves, on his media debut as Red Bull’s new team principal — though admitted he prevaricated when offered the job.
He was hardly controversial or duelling with his rivals down the garages, mind. He was not trying to pass himself off as a Horner tribute act.
Indeed, perhaps his most revealing comment was an intention to reduce ‘that noise from outside’. A dig at Horner? No, more likely a reflection of the brief outlined to him by Red Bull’s Austrian Burgermeisters, from owner Mark Mateschitz down, on taking up his promotion from the stable’s junior team Racing Bulls a fortnight ago, when Horner was fired without explanation.
However, Mekies, a 48-year-old engineer, was bold enough to make this declaration ahead of Sunday’s rain-threatened Belgian Grand Prix: ‘I don’t think anyone doubts what Red Bull is here to do: short-term, mid-term, long-term, it is to fight for wins and world championships. That is the mission statement.’
He added: ‘I have spoken (to Horner) and he has been nothing but supportive, even in the extremely difficult context for him. He was the first one to text, the first one to call, and even yesterday (Thursday), or this morning (Friday), we texted each other again.
‘So, he has been nothing short of supportive which has been impressive. Nobody is going to replace his character or be a like-for-like replacement.
‘Red Bull have been showing season after season they are the best in the world, and if they are not the best they are very close.’
For the past couple of years in his Racing Bulls incarnation, Mekies has barely fielded a question at press conferences, but here he attracted minimally 85 per cent of the inquiries.
Mekies was not told why Horner was axed. ‘No,’ he confirmed. ‘We didn’t get into the whys and why nots. But the objectives for the team were outlined.
‘I got a call from Oliver (Mintzlaff, head of the division of Red Bull’s parent company responsible for Formula One) and Helmut (Marko, the company’s motorsport adviser) and they asked if I would be interested in the job.
‘It came out of the blue. I asked if I could think about it for a few hours and I hung up the phone.
‘It is difficult to digest but the first thing that comes into your mind is, well, wait a second, this is Red Bull, and they are asking you to step into that job. So you pick up the phone, and you say, “Of course, it is an honour and a privilege”.’
Before McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took a dominant pole for Saturday’s sprint race, Horner’s old sparring partner Toto Wolff prowled the paddock, a lone Wolff now.
‘He was controversial, polarising and not soft-washed,’ said the Austrian of his departed adversary. Each used the other’s wind-ups as a fire-lighter for his team. ‘He was good from the entertainment factor, and from that perspective he will be missed. His track record speaks for itself.
‘I don’t think he’s gone for ever. He could pop up in some other function. I need to be careful — he could rock up in the FIA. Then I’m really in the s***.’
