At a recent tech-conference stage appearance, a backstage crew member wrapped his arm around Mekies for a photo — a casual moment that underscored Mekies’ practical, unguarded leadership style. TechCrunch
Just four months earlier, Mekies had moved up to head Oracle Red Bull Racing, replacing long-time principal Christian Horner. His appointment surprised some, given his engineering roots rather than media-driven showmanship. But Mekies has channelled that technical acumen into performance gains — not just by focusing on the car, but by refining how the team works. TechCrunch
Mekies believes far-marginal advantages add up in Formula 1. He points to the team’s collaboration with 1Password as one example: seamless credential systems allow engineers and factory staff to shift between simulators, wind-tunnel and track without losing time logging in and out. TechCrunch
Mekies’ career path traces from race-engineer in the early 2000s through a stint at the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) as safety director, and on to senior roles at Ferrari and then Red Bull’s junior team. TechCrunch He admits he won’t take personal credit for victories — when asked after a recent record-breaking win by driver Max Verstappen, his response was plain: “I have zero contribution.” TechCrunch
Mekies emphasises culture: “It starts with the people, 2,000 staff in the factories who have kept faith this season.” TechCrunch He also made a bold call earlier in the year: instead of refocusing entirely on next year’s 2026 regulations, the team stuck with its 2025 car longer to fully debug underlying problems. That gamble paid off. TechCrunch
Looking ahead, Mekies and Red Bull face a massive challenge: building their own power-unit in collaboration with Ford, taking on manufacturers with 90-plus years of engine heritage. “We call it a crazy adventure,” he said. TechCrunch The message is clear: walk the fine line between risk and performance, and leave no workflow unrefined.
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