Steiner Predicts Calm Era at Red Bull Under Mekies After Marko Drama

Guenther Steiner believes Laurent Mekies will usher in a new era of "calm" at Red Bull, following the "unexpected" and controversial exit of longtime advisor Helmut Marko. Steiner expressed surprise at Marko's parting shots, which included a scathing attack on former team principal Christian Horner, but sees Mekies' leadership as a stabilizing force that has already revitalized the team's on-track performance.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's internal dynamics have been a dominant narrative, impacting team morale and performance throughout the season. A stable environment is critical for maximizing the potential of a driver like Max Verstappen and for consistently challenging for championships. Steiner's perspective suggests the team may finally be moving past a period of turmoil that threatened to derail its title ambitions.

The details:

• Steiner was taken aback by the nature of Marko's departure, stating, "I didn't expect him to lash out like that again," though he understood the exit was likely due to Marko's age.
• Following his departure, Marko gave a controversial interview, labeling Red Bull's official exit statements as "nonsense" and launching a heavy criticism of recently fired team principal Christian Horner.
• Mekies' Impact: Laurent Mekies, who replaced Horner, immediately implemented new working methods and introduced a potent floor upgrade at the Italian Grand Prix. This transformed Red Bull's pace, allowing Max Verstappen to mount a late-season title challenge.
• Steiner believes the foundation for success is solid, noting, "They have the best driver and a good team—the ingredients for success are there."

What's next:

The focus for Red Bull now shifts to building on the stability Mekies has brought. The key question is whether the team can maintain this calm and translate its strong end-of-season form into a consistent championship challenge in 2026. While the Marko saga appears to be over, his lingering influence and potential future comments remain a wildcard for the Milton Keynes squad.