'Absolutely non-existent ego': Praise for new Red Bull supremo hands blow to Horner's personality
Iconic F1 figure Martin Brundle has issued a blunt admission for Christian Horner's return to Formula 1, saying the ex-Red Bull principal would not "want to come back as a team principal."
As Laurent Mekies inherited the top job at Red Bull, trends in the paddock have seen steering towards promoting those with a technical background to the team principal role, rather than 'ego' managers like Horner.
Mekies is the anti-thesis to Horner in every way and Brundle was quick to praise the "egoless" engineer in his first months as team principal.
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"Very impressed and he's handling it in a very mature way," Brundle said during the F1 Show.
Laurent Mekies is Christian Horner's successor at Red Bull. Getty
"Ego, absolutely non-existent. We're seeing a new type of team principal these days, aren't we?
"That's why Christian wouldn't want to come back as a team principal."
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal talk in the garage. Getty
The pundit rubbished Horner's main protagonist personality that grew in the midst of Drive to Survive's popularity.
He commended those that were making moves from a strategic standpoint, rather than focusing on the business dealings in the sport.
Joining this rising trend is McLarenrace engineer Andrea Stella as team principal while Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Williams, Haas and Sauber also have recruited technical names into their top jobs.
"I think with more of an engineering background, seems to be the way to tie together these vast quantities of highly specialised people in a team," Brundle said of Mekies quick success.
'He's [Mekies] got help with the politics, with Helmut Marko and others."
"So I think it'll be a collaboration on the [2026] driver choice, probably more so than in the past among the senior people in Red Bull, but I think he actually is the right man for the right time in Formula 1, and that's the way it's going."
Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium. Getty
Red Bull have decided to give Yuki Tsunoda some air to breathe in the choice for the second Red Bull seat after a string of favourable performances in Baku and Texas.
But Isack Hadjar is nipping at his heels for the chance to partner Max Verstappen in 2026.
Red Bull will be back on track for the Brazil Grand Prix that will begin on November 8.
