Stefan Salzer steps down as Red Bull Racing director, leaving Laurent Mekies as sole director

Stefan Salzer has officially stepped down as a director of Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology, leaving Laurent Mekies as the sole director of both companies. The change, confirmed in the UK's official company registry, finalizes a leadership transition that began when Salzer was appointed as an interim director following Christian Horner's departure earlier this season.

Why it matters:

This move solidifies Laurent Mekies's authority within the Red Bull Racing structure, removing the interim layer of management. With Mekies now holding the directorship of the F1 team, its technology arm, and Red Bull Powertrains, it centralizes operational leadership and clarifies the chain of command as the team prepares for the 2026 regulation changes.

The details:

• Salzer's departure as director was officially recorded on November 26th, according to the UK's Companies House database.
• He was originally appointed in August 2025 as an interim statutory director after Christian Horner was dismissed by Red Bull following the British Grand Prix.
• Salzer, the Global Head of HR for Red Bull GmbH, had no prior motorsport background before taking on the role.
• Laurent Mekies, who was already serving as Team Principal, was appointed as a director of both Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology concurrently with Salzer's initial appointment, and now remains as the sole director.

What's next:

With the interim directorship concluded, the team's leadership under Mekies is now formally unambiguous. The focus shifts entirely to on-track performance and the long-term technical projects, including the development of the 2026 power unit under the Red Bull Powertrains division, which Mekies also oversees. This streamlined structure aims to provide stability as Red Bull Racing navigates the post-Horner era and the upcoming major regulatory shift.