The Mercedes driver scout who identified Kimi Antonelli is departing the squad to take a leading position with rivals Red Bull.

Frenchman Gwen Lagrue, aged 50, will head Red Bull's driver development programme in his new capacity.

Lagrue has been brought in primarily to succeed Helmut Marko, who stepped down from his extended tenure as Red Bull's motorsport adviser at the close of the previous season.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, Mercedes and Lagrue all declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.

It remains uncertain when Lagrue can assume his fresh responsibilities.

Mercedes and Red Bull are currently discussing terms that would allow his release from his current contract as driver development adviser for the Mercedes F1 squad.

At Mercedes his duties are expected to be covered through a small adjustment within the existing young-driver initiative, widely regarded as the strongest in F1.

Bradley Lord, already active in the area, was recently elevated to deputy team principal after serving as communications director and senior adviser to team principal Toto Wolff.

Mercedes maintain a group of around 10 staff who evaluate junior series, extending to the earliest karting levels, in search of emerging prospects.

Lagrue spent ten years with Mercedes.

George Russell became the first recruit after his arrival, several months after the British driver famously presented Wolff with a PowerPoint outlining his desire to join the Mercedes junior scheme.

Russell has received Mercedes backing ever since, progressing through junior categories, racing for Williams in his F1 debut in 2019 and advancing to Mercedes in 2022.

Mercedes signed Antonelli at age 11 while he competed in go-karts and guided him via a fast-track path that led to him taking Lewis Hamilton's seat when the seven-time champion moved to Ferrari at the beginning of 2025.

Antonelli is confirming his status as a generational talent by leading the F1 world championship in only his second season.

The 19-year-old has secured five victories and six pole positions across 10 grands prix this year ahead of Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix and holds a 25-point lead over Russell.

Further achievements during Lagrue's oversight of the young-driver programme include Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who progressed through their junior ranks and has been supported across his decade-long F1 career at Manor, Force India, Renault/Alpine and now Haas, plus current F1 reserve driver, the Dane Frederik Vesti.

Lagrue also offered personal assistance to current Williams driver Alex Albon after he was released by Marko from Red Bull's driver development programme in 2016.

He provided Albon with career guidance and helped secure funding to continue his progress until the Anglo-Thai returned to Red Bull for his F1 debut with the second team, then known as Toro Rosso, in 2019.