Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has issued a categorical stance on the future of Max Verstappen, stating that personnel departures will not sway a decision to remain with the Formula 1 giants.
Verstappen has conveyed a negative outlook since the start of 2026, delivering several public dressing-downs of F1’s new regulations amid a struggle with Red Bull’s new RB22.
It has led the Dutchman to reiterate, with some added fervency, that he is opening to considering his future in the sport altogether.
Speculation around this has been exacerbated by the continuing haemorrhaging of key personnel within the Milton Keynes-based squad, most notably – and most recently – his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase.
But when recently asked if this would hasten or increase the chances of Verstappen either quitting F1 or Red Bull for a rival team, Mekies was firm in his response.
“Absolutely not. That’s my direct answer to you,” he said.
“Obviously, we speak with Max every day. And Max knows motorsport upside down.
“He’s living and breathing this team. He knows most of these guys. He understands very well the dynamics that can happen.
“The team has been extremely successful and you can’t promote everyone. And some people make some decisions.”
Verstappen will need to see both improvements from Red Bull and from F1 – via its “refinements” of the controversial nascent regulations cycle – for his mood to improve, but there is no doubting that he will give it his all regardless.
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