Gwen Lagrue, the talent scout instrumental in finding Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes, is departing the team to join their rivals, Red Bull. The 50-year-old Frenchman will assume a leadership position overseeing Red Bull’s driver development efforts.
This move essentially fills the vacancy left by Helmut Marko, who stepped down from his long-standing post as Red Bull’s motorsport adviser at the conclusion of last year. Neither Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, Mercedes, nor Lagrue provided comments when contacted.
The timeline for his start remains uncertain as both teams negotiate the terms of his release from his current advisory contract. Mercedes plans to manage his departure through internal adjustments to their junior programme, which currently employs roughly ten staff members dedicated to scouting karting and other junior series.
During his decade with Mercedes, Lagrue played a key role in the careers of drivers like George Russell, Esteban Ocon, and Frederik Vesti. He also famously assisted Alex Albon after he was cut from the Red Bull programme in 2016, providing guidance and financial support until Albon’s return to the F1 grid. Antonelli, who joined Mercedes at age 11, continues to shine as a major prospect under the team’s mentorship.
