Laurent Mekies, the head of the Red Bull racing team, dismissed the notion that their top driver, Max Verstappen, might leave Formula 1, asserting that the quadruple champion’s contentment would significantly increase with the availability of a more performant vehicle.
Following his eighth-place finish in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen acknowledged he was evaluating his ongoing participation in the sport, even though his contract with Red Bull extends through to the close of 2028.
The 28-year-old clarified that his reflections were not a consequence of Red Bull’s initial difficulties this season, but rather stemmed from his diminished enjoyment of the racing format dictated by F1’s updated rules.
“Naturally, I endeavor to adjust to it, but the mandated racing style is far from enjoyable,” Verstappen commented. “It feels fundamentally contrary to true driving. Consequently, there comes a stage where, frankly, it ceases to be something I wish to pursue.”
While Mekies, conversing in the paddock concurrently with his driver, wasn’t directly presented with Verstappen’s recent remarks, he minimized speculation that the quadruple title holder would exit F1 after the 2026 season.
“We are engaged in absolutely no conversations concerning those particular matters,” Mekies stated on Sunday night in Japan. “Our plate is full with tasks, yet I am confident that once we provide him with a swift vehicle, Max will be considerably more content.”
“Moreover, as soon as we equip him with a car he can truly challenge and distinguish himself with, his satisfaction will undoubtedly increase. Therefore, truthfully, our entire focus in current discussions revolves around this very objective.”
“Regarding the regulations, as you are aware, they introduce both beneficial and more complex elements. As a collective sport, in collaboration with other teams, we plan to convene during the hiatus to explore adjustments that could lead to improvements.”
Mekies acknowledged that Red Bull had descended to the fourth position in the overall standings, trailing Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, and noted that the current scenario appeared more unfavorable due to the increased margin separating them from third place since the inaugural race in Australia.
“There’s no cause for celebration today, though concerning the overall performance differential against competitors, it resembled the situation observed in Melbourne, with a one-second deficit to the top performer and half a second to the leading Ferrari. However, McLaren has now matched that pace. Consequently, we occupy a far-off fourth position. That is the stark truth,” he articulated.
“And I believe it stems from a confluence of inherent performance issues, whether in Melbourne or currently. This necessitates further effort on our part. Additionally, there’s the element of our inability to fully capitalize on the car’s potential and provide Max with a machine he can truly drive to its limits.”
“I’m not implying this is merely a matter of setup adjustments. I’m stating there’s an inherent struggle we’re facing with the vehicle itself, which compounds our fundamental performance deficit. Resolving these intricate problems and comprehending complex constraints, however, constitutes the fundamental nature of our work.”
“Therefore, despite the disheartening feeling of trailing the leading teams as we are currently, this is precisely the purpose for which the entire organization is structured: to thoroughly investigate and overcome such intricate limitations, implement developments that alleviate them, and achieve progress. It’s tough at present, but I possess complete faith that our team excels precisely in this domain.”
Mekies indicated that Verstappen’s discontent concerning the updated regulations was shared by various teams and drivers across the entire field, and addressing this issue would be a primary focus for the sport during the month-long hiatus preceding the upcoming event in Miami.
“Fundamentally, if there’s a consensus among all parties—the teams, the sport itself, the FIA, F1 organization, and the drivers—it is, I believe, a shared desire for qualifying sessions to permit full-throttle performance, or as near to it as feasible,” he articulated. “Consequently, this represents the initial objective our sport is endeavoring to concentrate upon.”
“The ensuing outcome would be that upon enhancing or reaching a point of enabling unrestrained qualifying, the race itself would inherently feature potentially reduced tactical play, or at least the degree of strategic maneuvering in the race could likely be modified.”
“Admittedly, opinions vary significantly within the pit lane regarding that specific aspect. Nevertheless, I believe the paramount goal is for us to approach full-speed qualifying, and that is what we, as a sport, aim to accomplish when we convene.”
“From my perspective, the emphasis ought to be on effectively resolving this for 2027. This is because we still have sufficient time to implement adequate measures if we intend to tackle this issue for 2027 and ensure ample opportunities for full-throttle qualifying in that year. Additionally, I am confident there are several minor adjustments we can make in 2026.”
