Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has revealed that the team is receiving interest from several “good drivers” regarding potential future seats. However, he remains focused on the necessary performance gains required to retain Max Verstappen.
As Formula 1 approaches the Hungarian Grand Prix, the long-term future of Verstappen at Red Bull remains a subject of intense speculation. While his current contract extends through the 2028 season, certain performance-based clauses could potentially allow him to depart as early as the end of this year. Reports suggest he may have until October to decide whether to trigger such a clause.
While there was speculation regarding discussions between Verstappen’s representatives and McLaren, McLaren Team Principal Zak Brown has clarified that the team is committed to its current driver lineup of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. With Mercedes and Ferrari also committed to their respective drivers, Verstappen’s immediate alternatives beyond Red Bull appear limited as the field settles into the 2027 landscape.
When asked by Sky Sports F1 at the Belgian Grand Prix if the team had been approached by other drivers, Mekies confirmed the trend.
“It’s working in both directions,” Mekies explained. “It’s completely natural, as we have been reporting. It is expected that Max receives calls from everyone because he is the best driver in the world. Similarly, as a top-tier team, it is only natural that you will receive interest from many talented drivers.”
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Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen gave blunt responses to questions about his future at Red Bull.
“It isn’t a distraction for us,” Mekies continued. “Our primary objective is to maximize the car’s pace, which ensures we keep our best driver. We are also seeing significant growth from Isack Hadjar to run alongside Max. That would be our ideal pairing, and we intend to maintain it.”
Mekies expressed confidence that Red Bull will continue to bridge the performance gap to their rivals. Since the significant upgrades introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen has secured podium finishes in two of the last three races, despite a challenging outing in Silverstone involving a late-race spin caused by a rear-wing issue.
In a notable performance in Belgium, Isack Hadjar climbed from 21st on the grid to finish sixth, extending his streak of top-six finishes to six consecutive races.
“The priority is to continue progressing with the car,” said Mekies. “We began the season trailing by more than a second, which was expected given the late title fight last year and the complexities of the new power unit regulations.
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After finishing third in Belgium, Max Verstappen has disputed the FIA rating Red Bull’s engine as the benchmark in Formula One.
“We started from a disadvantage, but the team has performed again. We were over a second off the pace, and now we are fighting for the final few tenths. When you are struggling for pace, the drivers feel that frustration, and we know this isn’t where we want to be. The only way to settle the matter is to find that remaining pace, and that is our total focus.”
Red Bull has undergone significant personnel changes following their recent championship successes, including the upcoming departure of Verstappen’s longtime race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, to McLaren by 2028.
Addressing the team’s current transitional period, Mekies stated: “It is simpler than it looks: it’s about speed. Red Bull Racing has one objective—to win—and that is exactly what Max wants. We aren’t trying to ‘prove’ anything to him; we are here to win, period.
The team continues to rely on the group that achieved their incredible turnaround last season. They have already managed to claw back nearly a second of the deficit to their competitors. We are now tackling the hardest part: the final tenths of a second. By working as a united group, we will achieve the results we need.”
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