Latest news with #Faenza-based
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Ignominious exit but Horner gave this F1 team wings
New Delhi: In the spring of 2005, a freckle-faced Christian Horner, only 31 years of age, had stepped onto the factory floor of a Formula 1 team based in Milton Keynes with an enormous responsibility on his inexperienced shoulders: to transform an unsuccessful Jaguar Racing into a headline-making Red Bull Racing. Former Red Bull Racing team chief Christian Horner. (AP/File) Twenty years and some grey hair later, Horner stepped on to the same floor on Wednesday morning to deliver his farewell speech after the Salzburg-based Red Bull board decided to remove the longest serving F1 team principal. In between, Horner transformed a team bought primarily to market an energy drink into one of F1s most successful with eight drivers' championships, six constructors' titles, 124 wins, 287 podiums and 107 pole positions. 'After an incredible journey of 20 years together, it is with a heavy heart that today I say goodbye to the team I have absolutely loved,' the 51-year-old said in a statement. 'Every one of you, the amazing people at the factory, have been the heart and soul of everything that we have achieved. Win and lose, every step of the way, we have stood by each other as one and I will never forget that. It's been a privilege being part of and leading this epic team and I am so proud of our collective accomplishments and you all.' Horner was given the reins of the team that had its origins in Stewart GP which lasted only three years (1997-99) before being bought by Jaguar. Despite five years (2000-2004) as a legendary British manufacturer, the team never finished above seventh in the constructors' standings when Red Bull decided to take over the struggling outfit. Under Horner, the base at Milton Keynes expanded three times in size, turning into a massive campus that not just had the car factory but also the wind tunnel for testing in addition to employing over 1,000 people to develop the two fastest cars in F1. As CEO, Horner helped bring in people crucial in turning the team with humble beginnings into world beaters. Car designers Adrian Newey and Rob Marshall, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley – all brought on board by Horner – were instrumental in developing the team. With former driver and motorsport executive Helmut Marko, Horner built the Red Bull Junior Programme which produced the likes of four-time world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen along with race winners Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly. He also oversaw the purchase of Faenza-based Minardi which turned into Toro Rosso, later AlphaTauri, and now Racing Bulls, turning it into a feeder team for Red Bull. Horner saw immense success with Vettel from 2010 to 2013 before Mercedes started dominating the hybrid era but once again it was his team that broke the reign of the Silver Arrows when Verstappen pipped Hamilton to the crown in an epic battle in 2021. The Dutchman went on to win the next three drivers' titles too. Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle has revealed that Horner wasn't given an explanation for his ouster and that the decision came as a shock for him. Yet there have been rumblings in the past year-and-a-half, especially since he was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female member of his team in February 2024. Though he was absolved in two separate investigations – one internal and the other external – accusations have lingered which could have been one the many contributing factors in his sacking. The Verstappen factor could have also contributed. Though the four-time world champion appears to have a good relationship with Horner, it is Max's father and former F1 driver Jos who has been publicly critical of the official. The junior Verstappen is unquestionably the hottest property in F1 today, winning the last four world titles with the last one coming in a car that clearly wasn't the fastest. This season, Verstappen has won the lion's share of Red Bull's points (165 out of 172) with no driver in the other seat being able to match up to his level ever since the departure of Daniel Ricciardo in 2018. It automatically gives his camp, comprising primarily his father and manager Raymond Vermeulen, a voice with weight which can control the proceedings in the team. To add to it, Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes over the past few weeks. If Verstappen decides to move it would prove to be disastrous for Red Bull, especially in the light of its technical team moving away in the last season or so. Newey has joined Aston Martin, Marshall to McLaren and Wheatley to Sauber. These departures have come in the face of the engine regulation changes in 2026, said to be one of the biggest in F1 history, which will see a revised and more environment friendly power unit and new active aerodynamics. Also for the first time, Red Bull will be producing their own engines with the help of Ford which will be a massive switch against giants like Mercedes and Ferrari. Though Red Bull have won two races this season, thanks to the genius of Verstappen, their car is nowhere close to McLaren, which has won nine of the 12 races this term. And traditionally, the best driver is always in the best car. Another issue that Horner has been unable to fix is the problem of the second driver who just cannot compete against Verstappen. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and now Yuki Tsunoda – none of them has been able to extract the maximum from the car as much as Verstappen which led Red Bull to lose the constructors' title both in 2021 and 2024 despite winning the drivers' crown. Another factor could be the demise of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in October 2022, someone who trusted Horner blindly. It is an open secret that since then a section of the Red Bull management wasn't keen to continue with the Briton. F1 is a complex business and the regular follower only gets to see the tip of the iceberg. We may speculate but may never know the real reasons for Horner's sacking. Nevertheless, Horner leaves a lasting legacy at the pinnacle of motorsport who, as pundit Karun Chandhok explained to Sky Sports F1, will be remembered for making a 'semi-serious, energy drinks fun team' into world champions.
India Today
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Who is Laurent Mekies? Red Bull boss who replaces Christian Horner?
The Formula 1 world was left stunned on Wednesday, July 9, as Red Bull Racing announced the departure of long-time team principal and CEO Christian Horner. Horner was replaced by Laurent Mekies, a highly respected and seasoned figure in global who joined Red Bull in 2005 following their takeover of Jaguar Racing, helped build one of F1's most dominant teams. Under his leadership, Red Bull won 8 Drivers' and 6 Constructors' Championships, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's most successful team Christian Horner Sacked Taking over the reins is Laurent Mekies, a French engineer who has worked across multiple F1 teams and held senior roles at the FIA. Mekies studied mechanical engineering in Paris and later graduated from Loughborough University in the is Laurent Mekies?Laurent Mekies began his Formula 1 journey with the Arrows team in 2001 before moving to Minardi as a race engineer. After the team became Toro Rosso, Mekies rose through the ranks to become Chief Engineer and later Head of Vehicle 2014, Mekies joined the FIA as Safety Director, focusing on driver safety and medical procedures. He was later promoted to Deputy Race Director for Formula 1. In 2018, he made a return to the pit lane, joining Ferrari as Sporting Director. By 2021, he was named Racing Director, helping guide Ferrari to seven race wins during his 2023, Mekies returned to the Faenza-based team to lead the team now known as Racing Bulls, replacing longtime team boss Franz Racing Bulls faced early struggles under his leadership, Mekies brought gradual improvement, navigating challenges such as Daniel Ricciardo's exit and reshuffling of the driver lineup this season.- Ends
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
DJ Khaled Joins Racing Bulls in Miami After Surprise Livery Reveal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Miami Grand Prix is used to hosting plenty of star power, and this year won't be any different as it welcomes DJ Khaled alongside Racing Bulls. The producer and DJ will be joining Racing Bulls for the weekend after their surprise livery reveal this week. With all eyes on the Faenza-based team after their fan-favorite livery this weekend, DJ Khaled is going to be soaking up the love that the team and its partners are receiving. The vibrant pink and white of the team's livery has won the hearts of fans this weekend, especially after Sauber and Ferrari disappointed with theirs. Matching the new Red Bull flavor, White Peach, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar are also set up with new race suits to complement the car as well as the can. "Miami holds a special place for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls— it's where we debuted our very first livery as a team last year, which was a moment that set the tone for who we are: bold, creative and willing to push the boundaries," Peter Bayer, team CEO said in a statement. DJ Khaled looks on in the Paddock prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 05, 2023 in Miami, Florida. DJ Khaled looks on in the Paddock prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 05, 2023 in Miami, Florida."Since that debut, we've continued to make waves with striking special liveries in Singapore and Las Vegas, each one crafted in collaboration with our partners and met with real excitement from fans. The Red Bull Summer Edition livery is a celebration of everything Miami represents and is a perfect synergy between us and Red Bull." The Racing Bulls garage will also see a substantial transformation to match the new livery, with DJ Khaled likely hanging out at the back to keep an eye on his drivers' on-track action. The music icon is no stranger to F1, and has been keen on returning to his home race in Miami. He was interviewed by the legendary Martin Brundle in 2023. After an introduction from the former racing driver, Khaled responded: "Everything good. "We in Miami, this is my home, the best city in the world and the whole world is here for this beautiful event, F1, family, fun, good energy, superstars, icons." Brundle had little to add to this: "I'm not going to add any more to that. Beautifully summed up, Sir." Leading up to this weekend, Khaled has been building his relationship with Red Bull, posting a number of videos to Instagram. He got up-close and personal after the livery reveal event (see below). We can't wait to see what DJ Khaled has in-store for us as the weekend progresses.
New York Times
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Liam Lawson's confidence suggests his Formula One future could still be bright
As Liam Lawson walked into the Formula One paddock at Suzuka Circuit, a heartfelt welcome from Racing Bulls awaited him. Written on the pit board was 'we missed you,' while several team members, including team principal Laurent Mekies, greeted the New Zealand driver on his return to the team he had initially left in the winter. Lawson put his hands to his mouth as he saw the sign, later thanking the crew for welcoming him back. It marked yet another surprise for the 23-year-old since last month's Chinese Grand Prix weekend, though this was more wholesome than his demotion to Racing Bulls after Red Bull opted to swap Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda. Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, Lawson discussed how he received a phone call about the driver swap in the days after the race in Shanghai, the decision being made after the Chinese Grand Prix by senior management and shareholders. 'It was more of a done deal,' he said. Advertisement 'I was more surprised,' Lawson later said, opening up about his reaction. 'It's very early in the season and I would say I was hoping to go to a track that I'd raced before and have a clean weekend, to have a chance like that. 'I have the opportunity to still be in Formula One and still racing and that is the main thing for me,' he added. Lawson has only spent two race weekends away from the Faenza-based team, competing for Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen during the Australian and Chinese grands prix. In two Sunday races and a sprint race, he didn't come close to Verstappen's performances, the average qualifying gap between the two sitting at 0.880 seconds after Australia and both China qualifying sessions. There were factors outside of his control that created the not-so-smooth weekends. Australia was a wet race and he lost time during preseason testing due to a water leak. But that is part of motorsports. 'We have issues. That's part of (it), especially with these cars that are pushing the limits like they are,' Lawson said. 'I think I'd maybe hoped that would be taken into consideration more, and I think that's why, for me, it was important to come to a place that I'd raced before and driven before.' In explaining the driver swap, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said in a news release that the team had a 'duty of care to protect and develop' Lawson, calling the move a 'sporting decision.' Speaking to broadcaster Sky Sports F1 ahead of this weekend's race, Horner said Red Bull's engineers were concerned about Lawson. 'You could see that weight upon his shoulders,' Horner said. Asked whether the demotion was in his best interests or whether it had damaged his confidence, Lawson's response reflected a self-assured attitude as he continued to navigate the tricky topic. By contrast, his responses to other questions were mixed with 'uh' and 'uhm.' Advertisement 'Confidence-wise, it doesn't change a lot. We all have enough self belief to be here, to make it to Formula One and to be in the sport,' Lawson replied. 'If you don't have that self belief, it makes it very, very difficult. So I think we all have that naturally. It doesn't really change how I feel about myself.' 'Christian and the team will have their opinions on what's best and that's up to them to decide,' he added. This isn't the first time Red Bull has swapped drivers with its sister team, Racing Bulls. Pierre Gasly found himself in a similar situation in 2019 when he was demoted to Toro Rosso after 12 races. The Frenchman won his first F1 grand prix in 2020 and left the sister team when it was known as AlphaTauri to join Alpine in 2023, proving a career can be revived. However, Lawson said he felt it would have been in his best interest to make the Red Bull Racing opportunity work. He joined the junior program at 16 years old, his sights set on joining the senior team. He went through the junior categories, including racing in Super Formula (which is largely held in Japan), and served as the team's reserve driver, doing stints with the sister team when Daniel Ricciardo got injured in 2023 before replacing the Australian driver late last season. On Thursday, Lawson shared that he only had a day or two to process the demotion before flying to Italy to do a seat fitting with Racing Bulls and prepare for Suzuka. It remains to be seen how he will click with the car, though he didn't 'think too much has changed' compared to last season and said he felt confident. Though he has been in the simulator, FP1 'will be the first proper test,' he said. He will also have a different race engineer compared to his previous stints, now working with Tsunoda's former race engineer, Ernesto Desiderio. Advertisement Lawson may have only had 11 grands prix under his belt heading into 2025, but he said he had felt ready to make that jump to Red Bull. That remained unchanged despite how this season started. But can he return to Red Bull? 'Whatever happens down the line is more or less out of my control,' Lawson said. 'What I can control is the driving stuff to prove that. So, yeah, where the future goes, honestly, at this point, I'm not really thinking about too much.'
Zawya
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
BK8 News Is The New Title Sponsor Of Gresini Racing MotoGP: Let's Get Started
BURIRAM, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 March 2025 - Starting Today, the Gresini Racing MotoGP team will officially be known as BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP. This marks the latest major announcement – just days before the highly anticipated start to the 2025 season at the Buriram International Circuit in Thailand. BK8 NEWS, a sports news and entertainment platform providing up-to-date sports coverage and fan engagement worldwide, will become the Title Sponsor of the Faenza-based team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Besides naming rights, BK8 NEWS will enjoy prominent visibility on the Desmosedici GP24, as well as on the racing suits of Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer. Additionally, the BK8 NEWS brand will feature on team uniforms, garage panels, and transport vehicles. This sponsorship marks the largest partnership to date for BK8 NEWS and aims to offer a powerful marketing tool to engage fans on a global scale. It is designed to support brand growth by leveraging the massive audience of MotoGP, particularly in key markets where the company operates, maximizing visibility and fan engagement. MICHAEL GATT – MANAGING DIRECTOR, BK8 NEWS "We're excited to team up with Gresini Racing, marking a significant milestone in our strategic growth. This collaboration reflects our commitment to performance, precision, and excellence. By teaming up with a team that pushes the boundaries of motorsport, we're establishing our presence in one of the world's most iconic motorsport events. Together, we'll fuel Gresini Racing's success, bringing fans closer to the action with exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes access." CARLO MERLINI – COMMERCIAL & MARKETING DIRECTOR, GRESINI RACING "I am thrilled to announce the signing of a title sponsorship agreement for the Gresini Racing MotoGP Team. Adrenaline, speed, and excitement make MotoGP an incredibly powerful marketing platform, offering brands unparalleled global visibility... and Gresini Racing stands among the best organisations in the sport. It's no surprise that a major brand like BK8 NEWS has chosen the exceptional Gresini – MotoGP combination as its flagship project to achieve its goals. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone at BK8 NEWS for their dedication and commitment over the past few weeks in making this project a reality... I truly can't wait to hit the track in our new colours and kick off the BK8 NEWS Gresini MotoGP Team in the best way possible." SALAUDDIN SINNAKANDU – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, OUTLAST SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT "We are pleased to have facilitated this partnership, bringing together two influential brands with a shared vision. It's exciting to see this collaboration come to life, and I'm confident it will open up new opportunities for both brands within the world of motorsport." BK8 NEWS operates in the fields of sports news and entertainment. It is a sports information and entertainment site that provides up to date sports news and enables engagement with the sports fans all around the world. Hashtag: #motogp #gresini #bk8news #gresiniracing #bk8newsgresiniracingmotogp #buriram The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP
