The first race weekend without Christian Horner at the helm of Red Bull Racing saw Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali weigh in on the bombshell decision that has sent tremors through the F1 paddock. With Laurent Mekies taking his first official steps as team principal at Spa-Francorchamps, the eyes of the motorsport world were firmly fixed on Red Bull’s pit wall—and on Domenicali’s lips.

While the Italian was predictably diplomatic when asked directly about Horner’s ousting, he didn’t entirely hold back. “I’m not going to comment on that, it’s not my role,” he told Corriere della Sera. “He made his mark and won a lot. This decision will have sporting and market consequences and will lead to personnel changes. Everything is in flux.”

 

Domenicali: “There’s No Divine Right to Stay at the Top”

But then came the real zinger, a reminder that even the most successful figures in Formula 1 are only as secure as their last result—or last boardroom ally.

“No one can think that once positions have been achieved, they are guaranteed by some kind of divine right,” Domenicali added pointedly. “You have to stay sharp, and that is one of the most fascinating aspects of our sport.”

A not-so-subtle sermon, then, from the man who presides over the F1 congregation.

 

Laurent Mekies Begins His Reign in Belgium

While Domenicali was busy extinguishing any romantic notions about permanence at the top, Laurent Mekies was being thrown directly into the fire. The Belgian Grand Prix marked his first official weekend calling the shots for Red Bull Racing. As job interviews go, this one was public, brutal, and timed with surgical cruelty.

The results? Well, not a total disaster, but certainly not the triumph that might have given the new boss a clean narrative. Saturday’s Sprint race was a high note. Max Verstappen soared past Oscar Piastri to take the win, delivering a temporary dopamine hit to the Red Bull garage and sparing Mekies from any immediate social media lynch mobs.

But the main race on Sunday painted a more uneven picture. Verstappen was unable to dispatch Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and had to settle for fourth place, a result that may have been quietly acceptable at Ferrari but feels borderline apocalyptic by recent Red Bull standards.

And then there was the Yuki Tsunoda situation.

Verstappen snubs Mercedes

 

Lost in Translation: Red Bull’s Communication Breakdown

In what might generously be described as a rookie managerial hiccup, the Red Bull pit wall managed to botch a tyre strategy for VCARB driver Yuki Tsunoda with the finesse of a pub team trying to change a wheel on the M25.

The Japanese driver was told far too late to box for tyres, a delay that cost him three positions and, with them, any chance of a points finish.

Mekies took full responsibility for the mess in a statement that sounded remarkably un-Horner-like in its directness and humility. “We wanted to bring him in on the same lap as Max and everything was ready, the crew was already outside, everything was ready to bring both cars in,” Mekies explained post-race. “But we simply called him in too late. So unfortunately, it’s our fault. And one lap made a big difference today, causing him to lose three positions, which ultimately ended his fight for points.”

In F1, a late pit call is the equivalent of texting your partner “Happy Birthday” at 11:59 pm. Technically still on time, but the consequences are rarely worth the risk.

MORE F1 NEWS – Clarkson SLAMS F1

 

A New Chapter or a Temporary Sideshow?

As Mekies finds his footing in one of the most high-pressure jobs in motorsport, questions still swirl over the true cause—and long-term fallout—of Horner’s dramatic ejection. Was it simply a case of internal politics catching up with the long-serving Brit? Or a strategic move by the corporate overlords in Austria to consolidate control now that Dietrich Mateschitz is no longer around to play godfather?

Whatever the case, Domenicali’s words hint at a wider recalibration in the paddock. The days of untouchable team bosses, it seems, are over. Even at Red Bull.

Meanwhile, Verstappen, who many believe had a not-so-insignificant role in Horner’s exit, continues to churn out results with stoic consistency. But even that couldn’t mask the reality that Red Bull are no longer the untouchables. Fourth place finishes, late pit calls, and corporate reshuffles are the symptoms of a team wobbling—if not yet falling.

 

Is Mekies the Man to Lead Red Bull 2.0?

Replacing Christian Horner is no small task. The man may have had his critics, but he was also the longest-serving and arguably most successful team principal on the grid. He knew how to navigate political storms, sweet-talk sponsors, and, perhaps most crucially, manage egos the size of Milton Keynes.

Mekies is more engineering brain than political animal, a quiet operator now thrust into the F1 circus’s most theatrical role. If he succeeds, Red Bull might transform into a leaner, less divisive version of its former self. If he stumbles, well, there are plenty of team bosses lining up for that particular poisoned chalice.

And let’s not forget—2026 is just around the corner. With new regulations, new engine deals, and new question marks around driver loyalty, the clock is ticking.

MORE F1 NEWS – Truth comes out after the meeting with Hamilton

 

The Jury’s Turn: Is Domenicali Right About F1’s Ruthless Nature?

So what do you think, dear readers of The Judge? Is Domenicali right to remind us that no one in F1 holds their position by divine right? Was Horner’s time simply up, or has Red Bull made a monumental misstep by ousting the architect of its success? Can Mekies steady the ship before it hits the rocks of 2026?

Let us know what you, the jury, think in the comments below.

We’re trying to grow a new online F1 community over on Facebook, so if you enjoy satirical takes, behind-the-scenes insight, and good old-fashioned debate, join us at https://www.facebook.com/TheJudge13 and be part of the conversation. #TJ13

 

MORE F1 NEWS – FIA president’s “reign of terror” detailed by challenger

Whilst it has been accepted practice for more than two decades that a sitting FIA president would stand unchallenged during their maximum three term tenure in office, Mohammed Ben Sulaymen will face competition for the role at the upcoming elections in December.

The incumbent at the head of the FIA has chartered a course during his first term in office which has seen him persistently at loggerheads with various individuals and organisations within the F1 paddock.

His first public act was to fine Lewis Hamilton for failing to attend the 2021 FIA gala as mandated which was quickly followed by a clampdown on F1 drivers wearing jewellery whilst in the cockpit, something Hamilton took as a personal attack…READ MORE ON THIS STORY