Oracle Red Bull Racing Appoints Gwen Lagrue as Director of Red Bull Junior Programme from 2027

Milton Keynes, England, July 27, 2026: Oracle Red Bull Racing has announced the appointment of renowned Formula 1 talent developer Gwen Lagrue as the new Director of the Red Bull Junior Programme, with the Frenchman set to join the team’s leadership structure in 2027.

Lagrue was a talent scout with the Mercedes team.

Lagrue will report directly to CEO and Team Principal Laurent Mekies and become part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Leadership Team as the reigning Formula 1 outfit continues to strengthen its long-term strategy around driver development.

The appointment marks a significant move for Red Bull Racing, reinforcing its commitment to identifying, nurturing and promoting the next generation of Formula 1 stars. Widely regarded as one of the sport’s foremost talent scouts and driver developers, Lagrue will oversee every aspect of the Red Bull Junior Programme, from discovering emerging talent to preparing young drivers for Formula 1.

Red Bull reinforces its renowned driver academy

The Red Bull Junior Programme has earned a reputation as one of motorsport’s most successful driver development systems, producing multiple Formula 1 race winners and world champions over the past two decades. By bringing Lagrue on board, Oracle Red Bull Racing aims to build on that legacy while evolving the programme for the future.

The move also reunites Lagrue with Laurent Mekies, with the pair sharing an established professional relationship and a common vision for developing future Formula 1 talent.

According to the team, Lagrue’s appointment underlines the importance Red Bull continues to place on one of its greatest competitive advantages—developing world-class drivers from within its own academy.

Laurent Mekies welcomes key leadership addition

Oracle Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal Laurent Mekies praised Lagrue’s proven ability to identify and nurture young talent, describing him as one of the finest driver developers in Formula 1.

Mekies said the Red Bull Junior Programme has long been a cornerstone of the team’s success and that appointing Lagrue reflects the organisation’s ongoing investment in its future. He added that attracting leaders of Lagrue’s calibre is essential as Oracle Red Bull Racing continues to strengthen every area of its high-performance operation.

The team principal also paid tribute to Helmut Marko, recognising his extraordinary contribution over more than two decades in creating and leading the Red Bull Junior Programme. Mekies credited Marko’s vision, commitment and eye for exceptional talent with establishing the programme as the benchmark for Formula 1 driver development.

Gwen Lagrue excited for new challenge

Speaking about his appointment, Gwen Lagrue described joining Oracle Red Bull Racing as the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career.

After spending 11 years with Mercedes, Lagrue said he believed the time was right to embrace a new challenge while continuing to grow both personally and professionally.

He called the Red Bull Junior Programme one of the most respected and successful driver development initiatives in motorsport and said it was a privilege to lead such an accomplished group of people.

Lagrue also expressed his enthusiasm about working alongside Laurent Mekies and the wider Oracle Red Bull Racing team to build on the programme’s remarkable legacy.

Focus on developing future Formula 1 champions

Looking ahead, Lagrue said the programme already has a strong foundation and framework in place to continue identifying, developing and preparing the next generation of Formula 1 race winners and world champions.

His appointment signals Oracle Red Bull Racing’s continued focus on long-term success beyond the racetrack, ensuring the team maintains a steady pipeline of elite driving talent for years to come.