Laurent Mekies has three big tasks on Red Bull to-do list following Christian Horner axing

It was bound to happen one day, but Christian Horner's departure from Red Bull still sent shockwaves throughout the world of Formula One. The Red Bull head honcho was the longest-serving team principal, having originally taken up the post back in 2005.

It's the start of a new dawn for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, with Laurent Mekies having been ushered in as Horner's replacement. But the Frenchman can't afford to waste any time, given Red Bull find themselves in a bit of a lurch following a rocky 2025 season so far.

Following Horner's dismissal, Express Sport have detailed the three biggest issues for new CEO Mekies to fix at Red Bull...

Secure Max Verstappen's future

He's the crown jewel in the Red Bull project, but according to some reports, he could be on the move next season. Mercedes chief Toto Wolff revealed the Silver Arrows were considering a surprise swoop for Verstappen last month, with his future at Red Bull remaining up in the air. While Verstappen is under contract until the end of the 2028 campaign, Mekies can't be remembered as the Red Bull CEO who lost the best driver in the world to one of their fiercest competitors.

Convince the Verstappen camp on the strategy

Even if Mekies can convince the 27-year-old to stick around in the short term, the new boss faces an uphill battle to persuade Verstappen and his camp that Red Bull's long-term strategy is worthwhile. Verstappen's father, Jos, was known to be a critic of Horner and while his exit might provide brief respite to the concerns, unless there's a sharp turnaround, there's every chance Mekies could be on the receiving end of the same criticisms.

Fix the second driver problem

The chinks in the Red Bull armour were clear to see from the off this season, with Liam Lawson having been dumped by the team after just two races. It was reported at the time that key decision makers were split on promoting the Racing Bulls starlet, but Lawson's replacement, Yuki Tsunoda hasn't fared much better. Granted, there have been some issues relating to the car that have stunted Verstappen, Tsunoda and even Lawson this season. But, if Red Bull are to reestablish themselves as a serious contender for the Constructors' Championship, they'll need two drivers capable of dovetailing.