Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies has revealed that the team receives enough calls from good drivers interested in an F1 seat with the Austrian racing stable. According to the Frenchman, this is part of the current transfer period in Formula 1, where much attention is paid to the future of star driver Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, Mekies emphasizes that he wants to stick to the current line-up with Verstappen and Isack Hadjar in 2027.
Read more McLaren on the attack with new upgrade package, return of ‘Macarena’ wing beckons
The situation surrounding Verstappen remains an important topic in the driver market. Reportedly, the Dutchman has a clause in his contract that would allow him to end his collaboration with Red Bull after 2026, despite having signed with the Austrian racing stable until 2028. Although Verstappen has indicated that he will only release news when there is an actual reason to do so, rumors about a possible move to McLaren, among others, continue to circulate.
Interest works in two directions
Mekies states that the interest comes from both sides and that Red Bull is also approached by drivers. “It works both ways,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s completely normal, and I think the media reported that earlier too. It’s completely normal for Max (Verstappen, ed.) to be approached by everyone, because he is the best driver in the world. And as a top team, you naturally also get calls from many good drivers. That makes sense.”
Read more Alpine under pressure after the rise of Racing Bulls and Audi: ‘Car not good enough’
According to Mekies, the speculation does not cause unrest within Red Bull. The Frenchman emphasizes that the priority is to improve the car and maintain the current combination of Verstappen and Hadjar. “Is it a distraction for us? Not really,” he assured. “The full focus is on building a competitive car. That’s how you keep the best driver in the world, after all. In addition, we see that Isack (Hadjar, ed.) is also developing enormously alongside Max. For us, this is the ideal combination, and we are doing everything we can to keep that combination.”
Read more Max Verstappen feels tension towards Hungarian GP: ‘Final stretch’
Read everything about the Hungarian GP here
