Laurent Mekies has already agreed to one demand from Red Bull chiefs that Christian Horner would never accept

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Red Bull have completely shaken up their Formula 1 programme ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, and it’s not the first time that they’ve done it.

Back in 2019, they promoted Alex Albon to replace Pierre Gasly ahead of Spa, but it wasn’t a move which succeeded. To this day, Max Verstappen still doesn’t have a competitive teammate.

But the new direction Red Bull are taking is a very different one from what they are used to. After over 20 years, Christian Horner is out, and he has been replaced by Laurent Mekies.

The Italian boss is an ex-Ferrari man who has led the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team for a year and a half. He’s a solid candidate who has the experience to take his new team forward.

Horner is ‘convinced’ he needs one thing to join Ferrari, and believes that learning Italian could help him earn a new gig at one of the sport’s most prestigious teams.

The circumstances are confusing currently, but Red Bull mechanics may have welcomed Horner’s exit and may welcome a new atmosphere after struggling recently.

READ MORE: Red Bull may have triggered Christian Horner ‘performance clause’ after what they saw in 2026 engine data

Laurent Mekies has agreed to ‘decentralise’ Red Bull power which Christian Horner never would have agreed to

Horner’s exit may ‘hurt’ Red Bull, according to Juan Pablo Montoya, who expects that Racing Bulls are impacted by promotions to the senior outfit that leave a void in their team.

With Red Bull fourth in the constructors’ championship, there’s a lot of work to do ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations, which could be vital if they want to keep their superstar four-time champion driver.

Verstappen’s Red Bull contract is changing for 2026, and it could make for an interesting time. Mercedes are lurking with two open seats, and could make a move at any time.

But Horner’s exit might help the situation, with the ex-team principal and CEO’s powers now set to be spread out a lot more than they were.

The Times reports that Mekies is willing for the team to ‘decentralise’ powers and that it may involve a new role alongside him in the future. There may be a new Chief Executive in town soon.

READ MORE: Christian Horner wasn’t the only Red Bull employee who incurred Jos Verstappen’s wrath at Silverstone

Which Formula 1 team might Christian Horner join next?

With Fred Vasseur coming under increasing scrutiny at Ferrari and Alpine needing a new boss too, Horner has a few options.

He had been linked with a move to the Scuderia in recent times, and Horner fuelled ‘suspicions’ in the F1 paddock about Ferrari to try and stay at Red Bull.

However, it didn’t work, and now he has a bit of time to assess which team he wants to join in the future. Alpine would be a far bigger project than Ferrari.

But he has a solid relationship with Flavio Briatore, and a move might work. After all, he has won multiple championships as the boss of a customer engine outfit.

What’s to say that he couldn’t be the man to lead the French-based outfit back to success after nearly 20 years since their last Formula 1 title?