Laurent Mekies addresses Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull
It is not every day you see a team boss forced to defend his star driver’s future, but that is exactly where Laurent Mekies found himself at the Austrian Grand Prix. With Red Bull sitting a distant fourth in the 2026 Teams’ Championship, the chatter surrounding Max Verstappen and his contract—which runs through 2028—has reached a fever pitch. The Dutchman, a four-time world champion from 2021 to 2024, is clearly feeling the sting of a slow start to these new regulations.
Yet, Mekies remains steadfast. He insists that Verstappen has made it clear he wants to continue with Red Bull, provided the machine underneath him can actually compete. It is a simple, brutal reality: "Max wants a fast car, always wanted a fast car, and he completely trusts us in making sure we are doing everything we can," Mekies explained. To that end, the team has rolled out a sizeable upgrade package for the RB22 in Spielberg, hoping to claw back a deficit that has at times stretched to a full second.
Ultimately, this is about performance, not politics. Mekies is banking on this crucial weekend to close the gap to within two or three tenths. While speculation persists about performance-based exit clauses, the team is focused on the data. As Mekies put it, "He’s pushing with us, he’s helping us to find the right development path for the car." For now, the goal is not contract negotiations, but getting back to the front of the grid.
