Formula 1 Belgian GP
Red Bull chief engineer ‘shocked’ by Horner exit as Mekies inherits “difficult situation”
Paul Monaghan weighs in on the drastic changes that were made lately in Red Bull team leadership
Ben Vinel Ronald Vording
Edited: Jul 25, 2025, 1:12 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Red Bull Formula 1 chief engineer Paul Monaghan has admitted Christian Horner’s sacking was a “shock”, and acknowledged boosting the squad's fortunes would be tough for new CEO Laurent Mekies.
One of the most successful team bosses in Formula 1 history with eight drivers’ and six constructors’ titles, Horner was unceremoniously removed from his position on 9 July and replaced by Mekies, who previously held the team principal mantle at sister outfit Racing Bulls.
Read Also:
Monaghan joined Red Bull in 2005 as head of race engineering before taking on the chief engineer role, so spent two decades working alongside Horner at the helm of the team and paid tribute to his former colleague’s success.
“I won't duck the truth, it was a shock to me,” Monaghan admitted, echoing some of the team’s staff – including Horner and Mekies themselves. “Sad. Christian’s put a large chunk of his working life into the team.
“All together as a team, we've enjoyed a huge amount of success – perhaps unwarranted to some views, whatever. Anyway, what is done is done. I say thank you to Christian for everything he did personally for me and for this team.”
Paul Monaghan, Chief Engineer, Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, talk in Parc Ferme
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Mekies is now tasked to lead one of the largest outfits in Formula 1, perhaps the trickiest one in terms of internal politics as the various stakeholders sometimes clash.
“Laurent’s got quite a difficult situation to be dropped in,” Monaghan added. “I've known him for many years, he's a very personable, smart chap.
“Now it's up to us to pull together as a team, because there are nine other teams who can't wait to fight us. If we're going to stand up to them, we have to stand as a team.
“We are preparing to stand as a team. Laurent is doing his utmost to ensure that that is what we are aiming to do. We will do so.”
For Red Bull to succeed, a major undertaking will be sorting out its second car as its successive drivers keep failing to match team spearhead Max Verstappen.
While the four-time world champion has taken two wins this season, outfoxing dominant McLarens, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have scored a grand total of seven points in the second RB21. That’s fewer than all entries but Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, and the second Alpine car that Jack Doohan started the season in before being replaced by Franco Colapinto.
On Tsunoda’s challenge, Monaghan insisted: “He's getting quicker. We don't stop. The three-week gap, we didn't all put our feet up and enjoy some time off, one or two days here and there.
“But yes, we are trying to help Yuki as we help Max. It's in our interests. We want him to go quicker. In Austria, he was on it. The qualifying had unravelled, which is dreadfully sad for him,” he added, referring to Tsunoda qualifying 18th at the Red Bull Ring before colliding with Colapinto in a dismal race.
“It puts him in a very awkward situation, there's pressure and so on. Silverstone again got better. The race was a bit mixed up and messed about. We start again here and I'm sure he'll be fine.”
Photos from Belgian GP - Friday
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Belgian GP - Friday, in photos
Formula 1
69
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ferrari working to extend Fred Vasseur's contract despite 2025 season pressure - Ralf Schumacher
Next article Toto Wolff jokes: If Christian Horner joins the FIA "i'm really in the s**t"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Vinel
Cadillac reveals date for F1 engine factory debut, thanks drivers for being “patient”
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Cadillac reveals date for F1 engine factory debut, thanks drivers for being “patient”
Audi hands F3 runner-up Freddie Slater F1 practice debut
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
Audi hands F3 runner-up Freddie Slater F1 practice debut
More from
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
7 h
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
Esteban Ocon responds to Haas signing Rafael Camara for F1 2027
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 57 min
Tim Clark wants NASCAR to be better storytellers to counter "brand perception problem"
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe