![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Oracle-Red-Bull-Racing-Filming-Day.jpg\")
Laurent Mekies has been very swiftly installed as Red Bull Racing team principal(Image: Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull)<\/p>\nF1 governing body the FIA is said to have been alerted to the need for a tweak to the rules following Red Bull’s swift replacement of Christian Horner with Laurent MekiesLaurent Mekies has been very swiftly installed as Red Bull Racing team principal(Image: Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull)<\/p>\n
Formula 1 is set to ban immediate staff moves between teams from next year. The change to the regulations in 2026 comes after Red Bull fired team principal and chief executive Christian Horner<\/a> and immediately announced his replacement, Laurent Mekies<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Frenchman has been able to step up immediately from the team principal role at sister squad Racing Bulls<\/a>. As such, he will make his debut in charge of the main Red Bull<\/a> outfit at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix<\/a> \u2013 a seamless transition by Formula 1<\/a> standards where staff moves often take an age to go through because of mandated periods of gardening<\/a> leave.<\/p>\n That is a standard practice in the sport, with teams often forced to wait for months before new signings poached from rivals can actually get to work. For example, Adrian Newey<\/a> was placed on leave By Red Bull last May after his announcement that he planned to leave<\/a>, and was unable to begin work with new team Aston Martin<\/a> until March this year.<\/p>\n But, in this case, Red Bull have benefitted from their ownership of two teams on the grid. If Mekies had been poached by another outfit, then a period of leave would surely have been enforced, but Racing Bulls were able to easily waive that so the Frenchman could get to work straight away at Red Bull Racing.<\/p>\n Sign up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox!<\/strong><\/p>\n It is a situation which has caught the eye of F1’s governing body, the FIA<\/a>. As a result, it is understood the vast changes to the sport’s rulebook ahead of the 2026 season will include a provision which would enforce a mandatory period of leave before a member of staff can move from one team to another.<\/p>\n That change will be part of the ‘Section F’ rules which are set to get a widespread revamp for next year. The FIA is looking to tighten the regulations which focus on multi-team ownership<\/a> \u2013 a victory in particular for McLaren Racing<\/a> chief executive Zak Brown who has been a vocal critic of Red Bull being allowed to own two teams on the grid.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Max Verstappen has head turned as F1 team makes ‘extremely good move’ to tempt him<\/a>READ MORE: F1 driver market flickers into life as Cadillac narrow down shortlist for 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “It’s an unhealthy situation because it impacts decisions made both on and off the track,” he wrote in an open letter back in December 2023<\/a>. “Whether it’s a case of having access to more data, sharing components\/personnel, or even having influence over a strategic vote, it’s not in the spirit of the regulations. It’s important to stand up for independence, competition and fairness.<\/p>\n “I’d like to see changes in the regulations to ensure that in future, they stop influence spreading from one team to another through strategic alliances and especially through ownership. Formula 1 should be true to its brand, and every team \u2013 except power units \u2013 should be totally independent of each other.”<\/p>\n Sky Sports launches discounted Formula 1 package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744794973_352_0_Untitled-7jpeg.jpg\")
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