Laurent Mekies admits it feels "unreal" to see Red Bull F1 team without Christian Horner

Incoming Red Bull F1 team boss Laurent Mekies has paid tribute to the ousted Christian Horner in his first interview in the new role.

On Wednesday morning the news broke that long-time Red Bull chief Horner has been dismissed with immediate effect, ending a 20-year reign that saw the Milton Keynes squad claim six constructors' titles and eight drivers' championships.

Horner appeared to have lost the confidence from Red Bull's Thai and Austrian shareholders amid a slump in performance, a long-running power struggle between different management factions and questions marks over the long-term future of star driver Max Verstappen at the team.

Speaking at a planned filming day with the 2025 car at Silverstone on his first day on the job, Mekies paid tribute to his predecessor and admitted it felt odd to be at Red Bull without Horner there.

"It still feels a bit unreal to be here and not to see him," Mekies said. "It would be impossible to underestimate the size of the achievement that this team has had under 20 years of Christian's leadership.

Watch: What Horner's sacking really means for Verstappen, F1 and Red Bull?

"I met him 20 years ago when he was the youngest team principal in Formula 1 and it's unbelievable to see how he has turned this place to the level at which it is now, and on that journey, the many, many titles and wins.

"Christian is also the guy that, together with Helmut [Marko] and Oliver [Mintzlaff], brought me back into the Red Bull family two years ago. And my first thoughts are really for him today."

Mekies said his focus will be to get the most out of the talent Red Bull already has at its campus as it prepares the sweeping 2026 regulations changes, which also coincide with the team becoming a works manufacturer with engines from Red Bull Powertrains.

"I still look at these guys as most people outside of the team look at them," the Frenchman said. "We look at you guys and we see the very best people in the world at what they do. That's what this team is.

"Even from being competitors previously, we look at you guys as being the sharpest team, having managed to accumulate the biggest amount of talents together and it's a privilege to join the team.

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

"The focus will really be at making sure that all the talented people here have what they need to perform at their best, because they are already the very best. And we'll be focusing on that, focusing on making sure that the Red Bull energy is flowing through the team.

"We are not underestimating the challenge ahead. Formula 1 is going to face probably the biggest change of regulations in its history. And it has a very particular taste for Red Bull as we go with our own power unit. So it's going to be an incredible challenge.

"The next few weeks will be dedicated to trying to meet as many of our people as possible, to listen to them, to try to understand this beautiful magic machine that is Red Bull Formula 1 and eventually find ways to contribute and to support."