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Guenther Steiner has told Red Bull that it will take Laurent Mekies a long time to fix the team’s current issues.
It has been a tough start to 2026 for Red Bull, as they continue to struggle under the sport’s brand new regulations.
In three races, Red Bull have only managed to collect 16 points, a huge 119 points adrift of leaders Mercedes.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed last week that Gianpiero Lambiase will be leaving Red Bull for McLaren in 2028.
Lambiase is the latest figure to join Red Bull’s ever-growing list of high-profile departures, which includes the likes of Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall and Jonathan Wheatley.
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Guenther Steiner warns Red Bull that Laurent Mekies is not a ‘magician’
Speaking on the latest episode of the Drive to Wynn podcast, former Haas team boss Steiner warned that Red Bull will have to give Mekies time to fix their current problems.
He said: “I think there was a combination of things; they didn’t win anymore, so the criticism for Christian was that he didn’t do a good job. Everybody got nervous, and people saw opportunities.
“Adrian was not happy there anymore. Jonathan Wheatley left. There are quite a few people who have left.
“It happens, and now, I’m sure that is what Laurent is focusing on. I think Laurent is a very good guy, but he will take, and he will need some time.
“He cannot fix in six months what happened in the last 24 months; he is not a magician. If they give Laurent enough time, he will fix it; he will bring his own people and try to find young talent who want to work at Red Bull and make them successful again.
“It will take some time; they cannot expect they will be back as the dominator or the dominating team in the next year or two.”
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Hannah Schmitz could be the next to leave after Gianpiero Lambiase
Less than a week after Lambiase’s departure was confirmed, it has been claimed that another senior figure could leave.
Speaking on The Two Mechanics podcast, ex-Red Bull staff member Kenny Handkammer claimed that the current Head of Strategy, Schmitz, could be next in line to leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Handkammer said: “The decline of Red Bull is quite sad. If I were the CEO of Red Bull global, I’d be thinking. Look who he has lost, Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Gianpiero Lambiase and Will Courtenay.
“It looks like Hannah Schmitz, Head of Strategy, is rumoured to go too, all these massive key people and talks are there’s going to be more. That’s a real head scratcher. How do you reconfigure the team?”
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