Gwen Lagrue posted a farewell message from Mercedes before taking on a new challenge at Red Bull Racing. Responsible for the German team’s young driver program, the Frenchman ended an eleven-season stint with the team after the Hungarian GP.
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Lagrue was responsible for developing several talents who reached Formula 1, including George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. At Red Bull, he will take over the leadership of the young driver program in 2027, a role that involves the responsibility of continuing the team’s driver development work.
In his farewell on social media, Lagrue posted a photo alongside a young Antonelli and recalled his journey at Mercedes: “Budapest was my last GP with Mercedes, closing an incredible chapter after eleven unforgettable seasons,” he wrote.
The executive also recalled the beginning of his relationship with the team and highlighted the work done to develop new drivers: “When Toto (Wolff, Mercedes boss) gave me the opportunity to join the team, I could not imagine the journey ahead. Together, we built, evolved, and challenged ourselves every day, always guided by the same ambition to help talented young drivers reach their full potential,” he said.
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Lagrue mentioned some of the drivers he worked with during his time at Mercedes, including Esteban Ocon, Nyck De Vries, Russell, Antonelli, Fred Vesti, and Doriane Pin. For him, watching the development of these young talents was one of the most important aspects of his career: “Seeing young talents grow and become world-class professionals was one of the greatest privileges of my career,” he emphasized.
When saying goodbye to Mercedes, the executive also thanked the team boss, Wolff, and the other team members: “To Toto, thank you for your trust and friendship. To everyone at Mercedes, thank you for the passion, commitment, and tireless pursuit of excellence,” he added.
Lagrue ended the message highlighting that he will carry with him, above all, the people who were part of his journey: “People often remember championships, victories, and records. I will personally remember the people,” he concluded. At Red Bull, he will now have the mission of leading the next chapter of the team’s young driver program.
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