Red Bull has appointed Gwen Lagrue, the Mercedes scout who discovered Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli, as director of its junior driver programme. Lagrue will take up the role in 2027, effectively succeeding Helmut Marko, who retired as Red Bull's motorsport adviser at the end of last year.
The two teams reached an agreement to release Lagrue from his existing Mercedes contract. Lagrue spent eleven years with Mercedes leading its junior programme, where he helped identify drivers including George Russell, Alex Albon, and Esteban Ocon alongside Antonelli.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised Lagrue as one of Formula 1's most talented developer of drivers, calling him among the very best in the sport at nurturing young talent.