Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has stated that the recent change in management at Red Bull Racing will not affect his decision regarding his future with the team. This announcement comes ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, a circuit where Verstappen has achieved three victories and which marks the first race weekend for Red Bull without Christian Horner as team principal.
Transition from Christian Horner to Laurent Mekies at Red Bull
Christian Horner’s departure ends his 20-year tenure as Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, a role he assumed before the team’s entry into Formula 1 in 2005. His exit followed shortly after the British Grand Prix earlier this month. Laurent Mekies has been appointed to replace Horner. Mekies has previously served as Racing Bulls’ team principal for the past 18 months before advancing to lead the senior team at Red Bull.
Verstappen reflects on Horner’s legacy and the team’s future direction
Addressing the leadership change during Thursday’s press conference in Belgium, Verstappen emphasized the role of the shareholders and management in the decision:
“I mean, at the end of the day, management and of course the shareholders decided that they wanted a change,” Verstappen said Thursday in Belgium.
“And at the end of the day, they run the team. And I’m the driver, so whatever they decide, it’s fully in their right to do what they want. And that’s basically how it happened. And at the same time now, sitting here, you look back at those 20 years of Red Bull, I think we’ve had a lot of great years, great results.
“Now naturally, of course, there are also years where it’s not going that well. And I think the last one and a half years have not gone how we would have liked, and management decided they wanted to steer the ship in a different direction probably. And then everyone else of course has to anyway agree to that and look forward. And I am looking forward.
“Of course, I had already quite a few meetings with Laurent as well. The last two weeks have been quite tense for him to jump in. But yeah, I’m equally also excited for the team now moving forward because that’s what we have to do: looking back, doesn’t make sense, it’s not going to make you faster. But at the same time, we do appreciate, of course, those 20 years and especially from my side, the 10/11 years that I’ve been part of Red Bull, yeah, those things will always be remembered. And the relationship between myself and Christian, for example, that doesn’t change. Of course, he’s not here now during a race weekend, but it’s still like a second family to me.”
Verstappen reassures commitment amid external speculation
Max Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull through the 2028 season. Despite rumors linking him to Mercedes, which has yet to confirm its 2026 driver lineup amid current star George Russell’s strong performance and the team’s trust in young talent Kimi Antonelli, Verstappen downplayed the impact of the leadership change on his own plans.
“I don’t think it will matter at all for my decision in the future.”
When asked directly about whether Horner’s departure might influence his next steps, Verstappen reiterated:
“I don’t think it will matter at all for my decision in the future.”
He emphasized that his focus remains entirely on the performance of the car and the team’s competitiveness.
“The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really. And like I said, the last one and a half years have not been what we want to be. Now we try and be more competitive this year a little bit, but for sure also with the new regulations [in 2026].”
Life is unpredictable. But in general, I’m very happy where I’m at. And that was still the target that we set out when we signed the new deal. That I would drive here until the end of my career.
Belgian Grand Prix weekend and its challenges
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps will feature the third Sprint race of the Formula 1 season. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are close contenders in the championship standings, separated by only eight points as the season approaches its midpoint. As always, weather conditions at Spa remain unpredictable, with increasing chances of rain forecasted for Sunday’s main race, adding an extra layer of complexity to the event.
Experienced motorsport journalist’s perspective
Phillip Horton, a seasoned Formula 1 journalist based in the United Kingdom, has covered numerous Grand Prix events since his career began in 2014. Known for his insightful reporting on the sport’s off-track dynamics, Horton has followed the evolving landscape of Formula 1 with keen interest. Since joining Autoweek in 2021, he continues to report from around the world, capturing the significance of both the racing action and the venues visited during the global championship tour.
Future outlook for Verstappen and Red Bull Racing
Despite the managerial upheaval, Max Verstappen’s focus remains fixed on delivering performance improvements with Red Bull over the remainder of the season and beyond. The appointment of Laurent Mekies marks a new chapter for the team as it seeks to reverse recent challenges and maximize its competitiveness under forthcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulations. Verstappen’s insistence that his future is unaffected by leadership changes underlines his commitment to stay with Red Bull through the remainder of his contract, aiming to build on a decade-long relationship with the team.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Max Verstappen apologize?
A. Christian Horner shared that Max Verstappen said sorry to the Red Bull team after crashing with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. This crash caused Verstappen to fall from fifth place to tenth because he received a 10-second time penalty.
Q. What gender is Max Verstappen’s baby?
A. Verstappen and Piquet have revealed they have a baby girl named Lily. They initially shared the news before the 2024 Abu Dhabi season finale. Lily joins Penelope, Piquet’s first daughter, as her younger sister.
Q. Who did Max Verstappen lose respect for?
A. During a stewards’ meeting in Qatar about a qualifying incident, Max Verstappen expressed that he “lost all respect” for George Russell.