Red Bull deal is a big setback for Mercedes, says official statement released just hours after Hungarian GP
Red Bull has made a big move that affects Mercedes just hours after the Hungarian Grand Prix.
At the race in Budapest, McLaren’s Lando Norris celebrated his first Grand Prix win of 2026. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, held second place for most of the race but ran into trouble with gearbox problems and a crash with Carlos Sainz on lap 38. This allowed Norris to take the lead and finish first.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen surprised many by finishing in second place, only his second podium of the year. Despite a three-place grid penalty from qualifying, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli stays on top of the championship with 219 points, adding 15 more by finishing third at the Hungaroring. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth. Hamilton got a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane after starting fifth due to a grid penalty from Saturday.
Isack Hadjar finished sixth, while Mercedes’ George Russell had a tough race. He recovered from an early anti-stall problem that dropped him from sixth to 21st.
Just a few hours after the race, Red Bull shocked Mercedes by hiring a key team member. Gwen Lagrue has been named Director of the Red Bull Junior Programme, reporting to Laurent Mekies. Lagrue is well known for discovering Antonelli when he was just 11, and he’s seen as one of the best talent scouts in F1. He replaces Helmut Marko, who retired in 2025.
Mekies said, “Gwen is one of the best talent developers in F1. I know the expertise, leadership, and passion he brings to helping young drivers grow. The Red Bull Junior Programme is a big part of Red Bull’s success, and having Gwen lead it shows how important we think developing future F1 stars is.”
Lagrue shared his excitement about the new role, saying, “After 11 years with Mercedes, I’m ready for a new challenge. The Red Bull Junior Programme is one of the most respected in motorsport and has produced some of F1’s greatest talents. It’s an honor to lead such a talented team and help write the next chapter. Together, we’ll keep building on its strong legacy, improving it for the future, and finding and training the next generation of race winners and World Champions, just like Red Bull has done for the past 20 years.”
Mercedes posted a photo of Toto Wolff and Lagrue on X, writing, “Thank you, Gwen. It’s been an amazing journey. We’ve developed many young drivers together, including George and Kimi. You’ve made a fantastic contribution, and you’ve built a strong team to keep the work going. Even if our professional paths part, we’ll always be friends with a shared vision. We wish you all the best for your new challenge.”
Lagrue will officially join Red Bull at the start of the 2027 season. The Red Bull Junior Programme has produced current drivers like Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, as well as stars like four-time world champion Verstappen and race winner Daniel Ricciardo. Gwen’s first big signing at Mercedes back in 2016 was George Russell.