The director of Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, assured this Saturday that Max Verstappen continues to be a fundamental piece of the Austrian team’s sporting project, amid growing speculation about a possible departure of the four-time Formula 1 world champion.
“Max is at the heart of the project. He is with us on all issues and participates in strategic decisions for the future,” said Mekies during the “Historic French Grand Prix” held at the Paul Ricard circuit, in Le Castellet.
The statements come at a time of tension for Verstappen, who is going through a difficult start to the 2026 season after losing the world championship last year. The Dutchman has also publicly shown his discontent with the new technical regulations for hybrid engines, which combine 50% electrical energy and 50% thermal energy.
The driver’s frustration even fueled rumors about a possible departure from Formula 1 if the category maintains the current technical regulations. However, Mekies downplayed these versions and assured that they are part of the “usual noise” surrounding the championship.
“He is as frustrated as we are by the lack of performance of the car and by the initial complexity of the 2026 rules,” acknowledged the Red Bull director.
Despite the difficulties, the team found some improvements in the last Miami Grand Prix, where Verstappen managed to finish in fifth position after adjustments in the management of the car’s electrical energy.
Mekies also recalled that they recently celebrated Verstappen’s ten years within the Red Bull structure and made it clear that the team’s priority is to deliver him a competitive car again.
“As long as we manage to give him a fast car, we will see Max smiling,” he concluded.
Verstappen’s future continues to be one of the big topics in the Formula 1 paddock, especially in a season marked by profound technical changes and the growing dominance of new teams on the grid.
