Everything Mekies said in first grilling by media as Red Bull F1 boss

New Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Laurent Mekies has faced the media for the first time in the FIA press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix.

While Scott Mitchell-Malm - who was in the room as Mekies made a good first impression in Red Bull colours - and Jonathan Noble work through a more considered appraisal of what was most interesting and significant, we thought you might like to read Mekies’ answers for yourself.

So after the initial introduction from host Tom Clarkson, here is every relevant Mekies question and answer from the assembled media at Spa on Friday at a press conference that left fellow attendees Jonathan Wheatley (Sauber) and Ayao Komatsu (Haas) with little to do!

Laurent, can you just give us an idea as to how things played out in the days following the British Grand Prix with regard to the approach that was made to you to take over and your reaction to the news that the owners had decided to relieve Christian of his operational duties?

Laurent Mekies: Well, it was not very different for me than it was for you, really, guys. I got a call a few hours before you guys were made aware.

I got a call from Oliver and Helmut, and they asked me if I would be interested to do the job. And obviously, it came out of the blue at that moment for me. I was actually in the UK, at Racing Bulls, and came in a completely unexpected way. And I actually asked them to think about it for a few hours, and hang up the phone.

And obviously it's difficult to digest, but the first thing that then comes into your mind, you say, ‘Well, wait a second, it's Red Bull.’ They are calling you. They ask you to step in to do that job. With everything that Red Bull means, its energy, its spirits, how they go about their racing teams. You pick up the phone, you say, of course. It's an honour, it's a privilege.

First thoughts obviously goes in this moment as well to Christian, because it's not something that I could have expected, and he had been nothing else than extremely supportive with me in these last two years. It's not a secret that he's the one with Oliver and Helmut who brought me back to the Red Bull family a couple of years ago. So, that's the sort of mix of emotion that you get at that moment. But as I said, the dominant one is, it’s Red Bull calling, I guess it's then a matter of loyalty towards brand. And you just say, ‘of course, if you think you need me there, I will go there’.

Max Verstappen’s future has obviously been a big talking point over the past few months. How much of a priority is ensuring that Max will be remaining with the team for next year, in the foreseeable future, and what conversations have you had with Max about his future?

LM: In terms of priority, I'm sure Max wants a fast car. And if we get him a fast car, I'm sure it's cancelling out all the other considerations. So really the focus is very much to try to get to know the team as quickly as possible, in order to see how we can support, how can build the next step of competitiveness in order to get a fast car and hence to make it an easy call for Max.

What qualities do you think Oliver and Helmut saw in you that made them want to make you team principal, and what initial impressions have you formed about where Red Bull have gone a little bit off the rails so far this year and last?

LM: The first question you will have to ask them! I'm not going to take that one.

The second question…all I've been seeing in these two weeks is extraordinary talents, incredible racing spirits. These guys go on the edge, on every single aspect. There is not a single department where you see a bit of feeling of laying back or resting. They really are at war in the good sense of the word, if I may, in every single aspect. So that's what you see in the team.

So in front of that, what we are going to try to do is to make sure that all these women and men, they have everything they need to express themselves at best, that they are supported, that they have all the means that they need to have to show that talent. They have been showing season after season that they are the best in the world. Or if they are not, they are very close. And to your point, you do not see weaknesses.

You see a lot of desire from everyone to get that Red Bull energy, to perhaps to reduce the noise outside, just to concentrate on racing. That's what you see, and that's what we're going to try to do together.

Scott Mitchell-Malm: When you had your conversations with the shareholders, what was explained to you in terms of the timing of doing it now, and what kind of plans have been outlined to you in terms of how you will run the team and how things work? Because Helmut mentioned in an interview this week that the idea will be reduced responsibilities versus Christian and a tighter focus on the race team.

LM: Because of everything we have said earlier about trying to get the team, trying to understand the dynamics, trying to understand the strengths and the weaknesses, it's probably a bit early to talk about structure.

But for sure one thing that is very high in our priority, is to make sure that we can have the right focus, that we avoid any bottlenecking in the company at all levels. As it's with that spirit that we look at what we need to do next.

So for sure, Formula 1 comes first. We have the chassis operations, the power unit operations. That's what is going to be the main focus, it's a racing team. People in the team love racing. That's what they are here for, and that's going to be where the main focus is.

This has been quite a seismic shift for many people at the team, many of whom have been there as long as Christian. You've had two weeks now. Can you just tell us what is the state of morale within the team as they deal with this big change?

LM: For sure the first 24 hours was a big adjustment, because nobody was expecting it. So no question the first few hours after the announcement it was a surprise for everyone, and certainly a digestion phase for everyone. What can I say after that I've been only finding a huge amount of support from everyone. They just want to go racing, they are hugely respectful, and we all are in the achievements that have been made under Christian leadership.

Can I be hoping for more support, openness from the people I’ve been meeting these last two weeks? No, everybody has been incredibly supportive, willing to open the door, willing to speak, to listen.

What were their limitations? What was the strengths? How do we go next about going back to the race track and fighting at an even higher level tomorrow? That's what I found.

Last time Christian was in the FIA press conference, he said Red Bull has had two really successful eras in F1 and now it's all about building a third one. Do you think that's the current state of the team, that it's somehow in a transitional phase? And that maybe building that third era is a long-term project, also given that some of the tools, including the windtunnel, will be online a bit later on?

LM: Yeah, we really don't like very much the world ‘transition’ in Formula 1. No question, you're right, Red Bull F1 has had these two incredible eras of success. The next one is dictated by the change of regulations for next year, and the amazing decisions to go with our own power unit, with Ford. So that's what will dictate a new era, whether we want it or not - all the teams will be starting a new era because of the scale of the change of the regulation next year.

I just wondered if you'd spoken to Christian since you've taken on the job? And also, Christian was obviously a big character in the sport over the last 20 years. Do you feel under pressure in any way to fill his shoes, both on and off the track?

LM: First, yes, we have spoken. He has been nothing other than supportive, even in the extremely difficult context for him. He was the first one to text, he was the first one to call. Again, this morning or yesterday, we text each other again. So, he has been nothing other than supportive, which is very impressive in the context. And nobody is going to replace his character.

Nobody is going to replace him like-for-like. I come in to do the CEO and the team principal job, is there any way one can do it in the same way as Christian? No, or at least not me, but we’ll be relying on the incredible strengths that there is in this team. Everybody is stepping up. It's certainly an opportunity to look for even more empowerment of our people.

Every time we have a discussion with Jonathan [Wheatley] we talk about ‘look how much strength in in depth you have in this team’, and that's what you find. So we will certainly look at this phase as a way to get our incredible people to step up and to create together the next competitive advantage for the next regulation phase.

Red Bull has always been known for a very distinctive team culture. Do you think that will change with new people on the top?

LM: What we want to get there is everybody loves the Red Bull approach. Everybody loves the Red Bull energy. I'm sure you all recall the early days of when Red Bull were starting Formula 1. We all want to feel that energy. We only want to go racing. That's what we all love. And is that the basis of our culture? Yes, it is the Red Bull culture, the Red Bull energy: work hard, play hard, and try to only think about racing.

Are there any details you can share about your current agreement with Red Bull. Is it just for this year? Is it multi-year? And are there any clear goals for you to achieve a particular place in the championship, to retain Max?

LM: I’m not sure how much I can share! No, seriously, look, I don't think anyone doubts what Red Bull is here to do in terms of objectives. I don't think anyone doubts what are the objectives of the team short term, mid-term, long-term, it’s to fight for the wins and to fight for the championships. That's what it is. So in terms of mission statements, that's what is the objective for the time being, and for the short term and the midterm, is it different to what it was yesterday? No. Does anyone have a contract that guarantees him to stay forever? No, I don't either! But I think it's pretty normal in Formula 1.

You mentioned in your conversations with Oliver Mintzlaff and Helmut. Did they offer you any reasons why Christian Horner had been dismissed at that point? Are you clear on why and why now?

LM: The short answer is no, they haven't. We didn't get into the why and the why now, but they outlined the sort of objective they have had for the team moving forward.