Red Bull deal Mercedes major blow with official statement issued just hours after Hungarian GP

Red Bull has confirmed a major decision directly impacting Mercedes just hours after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

McLaren’s Lando Norris secured his first Grand Prix victory of 2026 in Budapest, while his team-mate Oscar Piastri was running second for much of the race before his afternoon was marred by gearbox issues and a collision with Carlos Sainz on Lap 38, which allowed Norris to take the lead and ultimately win.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured a surprise second-place finish for just the second time in 2026.

Despite being slapped with a three-place grid penalty after qualifying, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli remains championship leader on 219 points, adding 15 points by finishing third at the Hungaroring, while the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed the top five.

The latter was handed a five-second penalty after an investigation for speeding in the pit lane, having started fifth on the grid as a result of a three-place penalty he received during Saturday’s qualifying.

Isack Hadjar managed a sixth-place finish, while Mercedes’ George Russell endured a tough afternoon despite recovering from an anti-stall issue that saw him drop from sixth to 21st early in the race.

Red Bull announce major coup at Mercedes' expense after Hungarian GP

Just hours after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Red Bull have dealt Mercedes a major blow by poaching a key team member.

Red Bull have announced the appointment of Gwen Lagrue as Director of the Red Bull Junior Programme, with the talent developer reporting to Laurent Mekies.

Lagrue was widely credited with discovering Antonelli when he was 11 and is regarded as one of the best talent scouts in the sport.

The 50-year-old will effectively replace long-time adviser Helmut Marko, who retired in 2025.

READ NEXT: F1 could bring back another iconic circuit this year after confirming Malaysia's epic return

In a statement, Mekies said: “Gwen is one of the very best talent developers in F1, and I know first-hand the expertise, leadership and passion he brings to developing young drivers.

“The Red Bull Junior Programme has always been a cornerstone of Red Bull’s success, and having Gwen lead it now reflects the importance we continue to place on developing the next generation of F1 talent.”

Lagrue also issued a lengthy statement and explained that, after 11 years with Mercedes, he was ready to face a new challenge at Red Bull.

“The Red Bull Junior Programme is one of the most respected and successful driver development programmes in motorsport,” he said.

“It has produced some of the greatest talents F1 has ever seen, and it is a real honour to have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of people and help shape its next chapter.

“Together, we have a fantastic framework to build on the programme’s remarkable legacy, continue to evolve it for the future, and identify, develop and prepare the next generation of F1 race winners and World Champions, following a pattern Red Bull Racing has successfully repeated over the past 20 years.”

Alongside a photograph of Toto Wolff and Lagrue posted to X, Mercedes wrote: “Thank you, Gwen. It’s been a great ride together. Together, we’ve developed many young drivers, including our current F1 drivers George and Kimi, and you’ve made a fantastic contribution. We have built a true successor to the original Mercedes-Benz junior team, and you leave in place a talented group to carry on this work. Professional relationships may come to an end, but we will always remain friends, with a shared mindset. We wish you well for your next challenge.”

Lagrue will join Red Bull at the start of the 2027 season. The Milton Keynes outfit’s junior programme has produced current drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, as well as four-time world champion Verstappen and eight-time race winner Daniel Ricciardo.

The signing of Russell was Lagrue’s first move after his appointment at Mercedes in 2016.