Wednesday the 14th was a busy day in Formula 1, with Red Bull securing Laurent Mekies at the helm through 2031 and, at the same time, seeing one of its aerodynamic solutions come under FIA scrutiny for 2027. The day also featured Christian Horner talking about a potential return with a 12th team, in addition to new developments surrounding the issues encountered in Singapore.
The retention of Mekies represents Red Bull’s long-term bet following the recent rebound. The Frenchman took charge of the team in 2025 and received a new contract through 2031 after the victories in Malaysia and Singapore, while executives highlighted his performance during the transition and the collaborative work with Pierre Wache and Ben Hodgkinson.
In the technical field, the FIA is preparing a change for 2027 that could directly affect a solution used by Red Bull on the RB22’s sidepods. The team is said to have exploited a loophole related to the shape permitted near a floor mount, and the governing body intends to alter the dimensions laid out by the regulations, which would force Red Bull to redesign that region of the car.
Outside the team, Christian Horner again spoke about his future in F1 and admitted that an eventual 12th team could represent a path back for him. The former Red Bull chief said there is no hurry and that he would only return for the right project, after also needing to address recent comments that fueled speculation about a possible move to Ferrari.
The Singapore fallout also continued. Charles Leclerc revealed that his Ferrari briefly slowed down on its own during the race and cautioned over the radio about the risk of an accident if the issue recurred. Fernando Alonso, for his part, saw his report regarding the turbo under investigation by Honda, which decided to replace the component even though initial data did not show signs of a serious fault.
In McLaren, the battle with Red Bull also took on a financial dimension. The Constructors’ Championship lead dwindled to just seven points, and a potential loss of position in the standings could cost about US$10 million in prize money, according to Gary Anderson. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton called for changes to the Marina Bay circuit to increase overtaking opportunities, advocating for a longer straight on the track.
