Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies once again responds to the ongoing rumors about Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 future. The Frenchman, however, indicates that ‘we don’t ask Max every week if he’s staying’. Additionally, Red Bull and Verstappen are striving for a common goal: ‘Returning to a more competitive package, and he plays a central role in that.’
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It is a question that has been asked in the paddock for some time now: will Max Verstappen stay with Red Bull until the end of his contract or not? The Dutchman is contracted with the Austrians until 2028. Earlier this season, however, he repeatedly sowed doubt about his future in Formula 1. In Canada, Verstappen gave clarity: ‘I can confirm that I am staying in Formula 1’. Although after qualifying he added that he hopes the FIA will implement the engine regulation change in 2027: ‘If the change doesn’t go through, it will be a long year’.
Team principal Laurent Mekies was also asked in the team principals’ press conference about all the stories surrounding the future of his star driver. The question was posed to the Frenchman amid rumors that Verstappen’s regular race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will eventually become McLaren’s team principal. Mekies emphasizes how Verstappen is ‘helping Red Bull through a rather difficult start to the season’. He is also not worried.
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Central role for Verstappen
“Listen, no, I’m not worried about whether Max will follow GP (Lambiase, ed.) to McLaren,” Mekies stated. “We always joke about this here. We’re not going to ask Max every week if he’s staying. He tells us he’s happy at Red Bull. He is involved in every strategic decision we make and is central to the project. Max is committed together with us and we both want the same thing: to return to a more competitive package. And he plays a central role in that.”
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