Alan Permane is locked in at Racing Bulls for the long haul, having signed a contract extension that keeps him in the role of Team Principal and Co-CEO Sporting through to the end of 2031. It is a massive vote of confidence in a leader who has quietly transformed the Faenza, Italy-based squad into a proper points-scoring machine.
Permane originally arrived at the outfit as Racing Director back in January 2024 before stepping up to the Team Principal position in July 2025. That promotion followed the departure of Laurent Mekies, who moved on to become the Team Principal of Red Bull Racing after Christian Horner left. Since taking the reins, Permane has steered the team to remarkable heights, including securing their first podium under the VCARB name at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix.
Alan is doing a tremendous job, and the progress the team has made is a direct reflection of his experience, commitment and competitive mindset,
That momentum carried the squad to sixth in the Constructors' Championship last year, equalling their previous best result. Now, in 2026, they are regularly scoring points and fighting for fifth in the standings, which would mark the best-ever Constructors' finish in the team's history.
“I am immensely proud to be continuing this journey with VCARB,” said Permane. “We have the right people, the right culture and a clear sense of where we want to go, and I am excited to keep pushing together.”
Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments, praised the decision to lock down the veteran leader, emphasizing the need for stability. “Alan is doing a tremendous job, and the progress the team has made is a direct reflection of his experience, commitment and competitive mindset,” said Mintzlaff. He also highlighted the partnership between Permane and Peter Bayer, who serves as Co-CEO Commercial, calling them a strong leadership duo.
Permane brings more than three decades of Formula 1 experience to the pit wall. Before joining his current squad, he spent 34 years with 'Team Enstone'—working through various eras up to their Alpine guise as Race Engineer, Chief Race Engineer, and Sporting Director. His CV includes championship-winning campaigns alongside Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995, as well as Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006. Now, that immense wealth of knowledge is fully dedicated to building the future at Racing Bulls.
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