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The 48-year-old takes charge at a critical moment with the Belgian Grand Prix just over two weeks away. Mekies expressed gratitude for his time at Racing Bulls, saying: "The last year and a half has been an absolute privilege to lead the team with Peter (Bayer, CEO)."

He added: "The spirit inside Racing Bulls is incredible, and I'm convinced this is just the beginning. Alan is the perfect man to take over now—he knows every bolt on that car and has been one of the pillars of our early successes."

Mekies brings nearly a quarter-century of Formula One experience to the role. His career began in 2001 with Arrows, where he worked behind the scenes whilst Jos Verstappen and Enrique Bernoldi competed on track.

He subsequently moved to Minardi as race engineer, working with drivers including Mark Webber, Justin Wilson, Zsolt Baumgartner and Christijan Albers. When Red Bull purchased Minardi in 2005 and transformed it into Scuderia Toro Rosso, Mekies was promoted to chief engineer.

During nearly a decade at Toro Rosso, he rose to head of vehicle performance. He departed in 2014 for a four-year stint at the FIA as safety director and deputy race director.

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In 2018, he joined Ferrari as sporting director, later becoming racing director before leaving in 2023 to take the Racing Bulls team principal position.

Throughout his career, Mekies has worked with numerous drivers who passed through Red Bull's development programme.

At Toro Rosso, he collaborated with Daniel Ricciardo, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed, Sebastien Bourdais, Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi and Jean-Eric Vergne.

His sporting director role at Ferrari involved managing logistics, liaising with the FIA on regulatory matters and interpreting rules - experience that prepared him for leadership positions.

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Last year, he said that becoming a team principal had never been his "dream", preferring the race engineer role for its close driver contact, which he considered "the best job in the world".

At Racing Bulls, he has demonstrated tough decision-making by replacing Ricciardo with Liam Lawson with six races remaining.

He later acknowledged mishandling Ricciardo's departure, stating: "We are not happy with ultimately how we handled it, and of course we are very conscious that we could, and we should, have done a better job at that."

Mekies inherits a team facing its most challenging period in years. Red Bull currently sits fourth in the Constructors' Championship, maintaining position largely through Max Verstappen's individual brilliance.

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The extent of their struggles was laid bare at Silverstone, where Yuki Tsunoda finished 15th and last of all finishers. The Japanese driver didn't mince words about the car's performance, describing it as "outstandingly slow".

This represents Red Bull's most turbulent season in a decade. The team that dominated recent championships now finds itself battling to stay competitive whilst their junior outfit, Racing Bulls, sits seventh with prospects of a top-half finish.

Despite the turmoil, Verstappen recently confirmed his long-term commitment to Red Bull, though whether he knew of Horner's impending departure remains unclear.

Looking ahead, Mekies faces formidable challenges in steering Red Bull through a crucial transitional period. The 2026 season will bring sweeping regulation changes that could reshape the competitive order entirely.

The team must also navigate a new power unit partnership with Ford, marking a significant technical shift. These changes arrive as Red Bull attempts to arrest their current decline and return to championship-contending form.

With his distinctive grey locks, moustache and goatee giving him an Einstein-like appearance, Mekies will need all his intellect to guide the team through these turbulent waters. His 24 years in Formula One have prepared him for difficult situations, from his time at struggling Arrows to managing Ferrari's sporting operations.

The Frenchman's genuine nature and infectious energy may prove valuable assets in rallying a team accustomed to success but now facing adversity.