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Formula 1Thu 15 Oct 2026 · 4 of 8

Red Bull Extends Laurent Mekies' F1 Team Principal Contract Through 2031

Unsupported claims · 9/10 supported1 cited · 1 min read

The Race reports that Red Bull announced the extension of Laurent Mekies' contract as its Formula 1 team principal through 2031 . The Race reports that the extension is presented as a strong endorsement of Mekies' leadership . The Race reports that the press release highlighted that under Mekies' leadership the team delivered a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the 2025 season, ultimately missing the drivers’ championship by just two points . The Race reports that the announcement follows Max Verstappen’s long‑term commitment to Red Bull, the extension of Isack Hadjar’s deal, and Verstappen’s back‑to‑back wins in Malaysia and Singapore . The Race reports that Mekies was moved from the junior Racing Bulls team after Christian Horner was ousted from Red Bull last summer .

Why it matters. The Race reports that the extension serves as a strong endorsement of Mekies' leadership, reinforcing Red Bull’s continuity at the top of its F1 operation .

Earlier on Formula 1

Tue 13 Oct 2026Verstappen clinches Singapore win, earns perfect Power Rankings scoreMax Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on his 10th attempt. The Power Rankings judges judged his performance perfect, awarding high scores across sprint qualifying, the sprint, main qualifying and the race. The judges assess each driver after every Grand Prix, scoring them out of 10, averaging the scores for a race score and tallying them across the season. Liam Lawson is fighting for his Formula 1 future. F2 champion Nikola Tsolov is being considered for a promotion at Racing Bulls.Tue 13 Oct 2026F1 Secures 10‑Year Deal for African Grand Prix in RwandaFormula 1 has signed a 10‑year agreement to hold an African Grand Prix in Rwanda, with the first race expected in the early 2030s. The race will take place on a purpose‑built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 km south of Kigali and adjacent to the new Kigali International Airport. The Bugesera circuit will be constructed to FIA Grade 1 standards as part of a wider sports, tourism, infrastructure and commercial development led by the Rwanda Development Board. This event will be the first Formula 1 race on the African continent since the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami ended in 1993. F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali described the agreement as “one of the most significant days in the history of Formula 1”. The Race reports that seven‑time world champion Lewis Hamilton has advocated for an African race and said he might delay retirement to compete in it.
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