Laurent Mekies

Laurent Mekies is the Team Principal of the Visa Cash App RB Formula One team during the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.

Laurent Mekies was born on April 28, 1977. He studied obtained a master's degree from the École supérieure des techniques aéronautiques et de construction automobile in Paris and graduated the Loughborough University.

Before finding himself a spot in Formula 1, Mekies worked with Asia Motor Technologies France Formula Three team. Shortly after, however, he got his first job in Formula 1 when he joined Arrows Grand Prix International.

After his stint with Arrows, the Frenchman switched to Minardi, where he worked with quite a few drivers in the position of race engineer. Some names you might recognize include Mark Webber and Christijan Albers.

In 2005, the Minardi team was sold to an energy drinks company called Red Bull. The Austrian company renamed the team to Scuderia Toro Rosso, and its purpose would be to give a chance to young, promising drivers who could later drive for Red Bull's A team - Red Bull Racing.

Mekies stayed with the team through the transition period and was promoted to chief engineer. In 2014, he decided to leave the team to become FIA (F1's regulatory body) safety director. In 2017, he was appointed deputy race director.

Just a year later, the French engineer decided it was time for him to return to one of the F1 teams. This time, it was Ferrari. In September 2018, he was appointed a sporting director within the Italian team.

From 2019 until 2021, he was in charge of the Track and Performance department, and in January 2021, Mekies was appointed Deputy Team Principal and Racing Director of Scuderia Ferrari.

During the following two seasons, the Frenchman amassed more experience, which made him a clear candidate for the role of team principal at RB. In 2023, it was announced that Mekies would return to his old team (because RB is essentially rebranded Toro Rosso).

Mekies officially became the team principal of RB in 2024. He replaced former team principal Franz Tost as part of a reorganization to bring fresh energy and leadership to the team.

Under Mekies's leadership, RB wanted to abandon the status of Red Bull's B team as a junior team. The Italy-based team now sees itself more as a sister team that wants to fight for podiums.