Red Bull names Gwen Lagrue director of Junior Programme

Red Bull has appointed Gwen Lagrue, a highly regarded talent scout from Mercedes, as the new Director of its prestigious Junior Programme, the team announced on July 27, 2026. Lagrue will join the reigning world champions for the 2027 season, taking over the role previously held for decades by Helmut Marko, who departed at the end of 2025.

Lagrue, who spent more than a decade with Mercedes, most recently as head of its junior driver development, will report directly to Red Bull Team Principal and CEO Laurent Mekies. His appointment marks a significant poaching of expertise from a rival team as Red Bull seeks to solidify the future of its driver academy.

In a statement, Mekies praised Lagrue as one of the very best talent developers in Formula 1, highlighting his expertise, leadership, and passion. Mekies said the Junior Programme has always been a cornerstone of Red Bull's success and that bringing Lagrue on board reflects the team's continued commitment to developing the next generation of talent. He also paid tribute to Marko's extraordinary contribution over more than two decades, crediting him with establishing the programme as the benchmark in the sport.