Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies to Miss Opening Bahrain F1 Test Due to Medical Procedure
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies will reportedly be absent from the opening round of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain after undergoing a routine medical procedure. The Red Bull boss is expected to miss the first three-day test session but should return in time for the second round later in the month.
According to reports from Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Mekies’ procedure is minor and precautionary, with no serious health concerns involved. While he will not be present trackside for the opening phase of testing, he is anticipated to resume duties soon afterward as preparations continue for the new F1 season.
Formula 1 activity is now ramping up after the winter break, with all 11 teams having revealed their new liveries and completed an initial shakedown event in Barcelona. That early running was conducted behind closed doors and focused primarily on system checks and reliability validation rather than outright performance.
Attention now shifts to the Bahrain International Circuit, where the first official pre-season test takes place from February 11 to 13. A second three-day session will follow from February 18 to 20, giving teams valuable additional mileage before the opening race of the season.
The Bahrain tests will provide a more representative measure of car performance compared to Barcelona, thanks to higher temperatures and more race-like conditions. Teams are expected to move beyond basic reliability programs and begin more detailed setup work, performance runs, and data gathering aimed at understanding their competitive position.
Broadcast coverage will be partially available for the opening Bahrain test. Only the final hour of each day’s running will be shown live, but full live timing data will be accessible throughout all sessions. From the second day onward, spectators will also be permitted at the circuit. The second Bahrain test week will receive full live television coverage across all sessions.
Initial feedback from the Barcelona shakedown suggested Mercedes made a strong early impression. The team reportedly completed more than 500 laps over three days, signaling solid reliability and preparation. There is also ongoing speculation within the paddock that Mercedes may have uncovered a technical advantage within the engine rules that could offer a small performance benefit.
Red Bull’s own Barcelona program was also productive, particularly regarding its new in-house power unit project developed with Ford. The DM01 engine — the first major product from Red Bull Ford Powertrains — logged over 300 laps across running shared by Max Verstappen and rookie Isack Hadjar. Early signs pointed to encouraging durability, though Bahrain’s tougher climate will offer a more demanding test.
For the first Bahrain test, Red Bull has already confirmed how driving duties will be divided. Verstappen will take full control of the car on day one, completing a full schedule of runs. Hadjar will then drive throughout day two as he continues building experience with the team. On the final day, the pair will split responsibilities, with Verstappen scheduled for the morning session and Hadjar taking over in the afternoon.
While pre-season testing timesheets rarely tell the full story due to differing fuel loads and run plans, the Bahrain sessions are expected to offer the clearest indication yet of how the competitive order may be shaping up — even with Mekies temporarily away from the Red Bull pit wall.
