After eleven seasons at Mercedes, Gwen Lagrue has said goodbye to the German team. The future head of Red Bull’s junior program wanted to thank Toto Wolff and everyone he worked with.
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An important chapter closes for Gwen Lagrue. After more than a decade at Mercedes, the head of young driver development has officially left the German team following the Hungarian Grand Prix.
In a few months, the Frenchman will take over the prestigious Red Bull Junior Programme, succeeding Helmut Marko. Before taking on this new challenge, he published a long message on social media reflecting on these eleven years spent in Brackley.
Eleven seasons dedicated to young talents
Within Mercedes, Gwen Lagrue played a major role in identifying and supporting young drivers.
He notably followed the rise of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to Formula 1, while working with many other talents such as Esteban Ocon, Nyck de Vries, Frederik Vesti, and Doriane Pin.
Lagrue’s move to Red Bull was revealed several weeks ago before being officially confirmed by Mercedes. He will officially take charge of the Austrian team’s junior program starting in 2027.
“Every dream needs a team”
In his farewell message, Lagrue reflected on the emotions felt when leaving Mercedes.
“Every dream needs a team.”
A phrase that, according to him, took on a very special meaning as he turned this page of his career.
“Budapest was my last Grand Prix with Mercedes-AMG Petronas. It marks the end of an incredible chapter after eleven unforgettable seasons.”
He also wanted to thank Toto Wolff for the trust he gave him when he recruited him.
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“When Toto gave me the opportunity to join the team, I never imagined the journey ahead. Together, we built, evolved, and pushed our limits every day with the same ambition: to help talented young drivers fully realize their potential.”
“I will remember above all the people”
Although Mercedes won many titles during this period, it is not the trophies that will mark Lagrue the most.
“What makes me the proudest is not just what we accomplished, but all the drivers I had the privilege to work with.”
He then addressed a message to all the young drivers who passed through the Mercedes program.
“Seeing young talents become world-class drivers has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. Keep dreaming big, working hard, and enjoying every step of your journey.”
Finally, he wanted to thank all the staff at Mercedes.
“Thank you Toto for your trust and friendship. Thank you to all the members of Mercedes for your passion, commitment, and constant pursuit of excellence.”
He concluded with a particularly symbolic phrase.
“People will remember championships, victories, and records. I will remember above all the people. Thank you for believing in me and allowing me to contribute, in my own way, to this extraordinary adventure.”
From 2027, Gwen Lagrue will now put his expertise at the service of Red Bull, with the mission of bringing out the next generation of talents for the Austrian team.
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