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Red Bull Signs Top Mercedes Talent Scout to Succeed Marko
Red Bull has pulled off a major coup in the personnel market by hiring Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes' successful talent hunter, to lead their junior programme.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-20T09:36:01.000Z - 2 min read
Red Bull has made a striking move in the battle for talent by signing Gwen Lagrue, the highly regarded talent scout from rivals Mercedes. The Frenchman is expected to take charge of Red Bull's junior programme, a role that previously encompassed many responsibilities of departed motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
Lagrue played a pivotal role at Mercedes for a decade. He is regarded as the talent scout who discovered Formula 1 standout Kimi Antonelli and was instrumental in guiding several drivers, including George Russell, on their path to top-level motorsport.
Within the Red Bull setup, Lagrue will focus on the further development of young driver talent. His arrival underlines team principal Laurent Mekies' ambition to strengthen the organisation in crucial areas for the long term, with a focus on the foundations of future success.
Although Lagrue's move has been announced, a final departure date from Mercedes is yet to be agreed. The teams are currently in discussions to ensure a smooth transition. This leaves Mercedes facing the challenge of finding a successor to head their successful talent programme, with Bradley Lord, recently appointed deputy team principal, seen as a potential candidate.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed discussions with Lagrue following the Belgian Grand Prix, though he stressed that no final decisions have been made. He praised Lagrue's dedication in building a strong team for the junior programme. Red Bull itself has not yet issued an official statement regarding the hiring.
Lagrue's arrival is viewed inside Red Bull as a strategic signal. It demonstrates that despite recent high-profile departures such as Max Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase and ongoing uncertainty surrounding chief engineer Paul Monaghan, the team remains highly attractive to top talent across the Formula 1 paddock.
This high-profile recruitment also serves to counter the perception that Red Bull is merely losing personnel. It is a clear demonstration of respected paddock figures' confidence in a strong future for the team, potentially even encouraging other senior staff to consider the project.
The longstanding connection between Lagrue and Laurent Mekies, who has now been in full control of Red Bull for over a year and actively working to bolster the organization, plays a key role here. Mekies is actively seeking the right people with the right mindset to push the team forward, and Lagrue clearly fits that bill.