Max Verstappen's boss, Laurent Mekies, has revealed that having a four-time champion like Verstappen in the team is not always a good thing. On the weekend of the Austrian Grand Prix, Mekies explained that Verstappen's speed can give the team and fans false confidence.
What happened at the Austrian Grand Prix?
Verstappen finished P2 in Sunday's race, just 1.6s behind eventual race winner George Russell. However, during the final hour of practice on Friday, Verstappen finished only sixth-fastest, before his late crash in qualifying.
Mekies said that Verstappen's ability to be right on the money from the word go often paints a picture of the team that is too nice compared to the competition. This can be misleading, as it does not always translate to a good result.
Why it matters for Max Verstappen
Verstappen's loyalty to Red Bull is being tested in 2026, after the team struggled to hit the ground running under the new regulations. The Dutchman has four drivers' titles to his name and has frequently reaffirmed that he wishes to only represent Red Bull in F1.
As July's summer break approaches, the pressure is on for Mekies to convince Verstappen to stay instead of activating his contract clause, which is rumored to allow him to leave Red Bull should he sit outside the top two in the championship once next month's Hungarian GP draws to a close.
What comes next for Max Verstappen and Red Bull?
Red Bull brought a major upgrade to their home race in Spielberg, in the hopes of securing a more positive result and keeping Verstappen interested in the project. However, the team is at risk of being left behind on the engine front, as their rivals use the first of the upgrade tokens handed to them by F1's governing body.
The FIA may have ruled the new Red Bull Powertrains-Ford power unit as the benchmark for the new era, but Mekies and his team have strongly protested that assessment. Verstappen's fans should not assume that his ability to be right on the money from the word go is necessarily a good thing.
Red Bull's star driver has frequently reaffirmed his commitment to the team, but the pressure is on to deliver results. With the Hungarian GP approaching, Verstappen and Red Bull will be looking to secure a more positive result and keep their championship hopes alive.
The team's performance at the Austrian Grand Prix was a mixed bag, with Verstappen's speed not always translating to a good result. Mekies will be looking to address this issue and convince Verstappen to stay with the team beyond 2026.
The Dutchman's contract clause is a major concern for Red Bull, as it could allow him to leave the team if they do not meet certain performance targets. With the summer break approaching, the pressure is on for Mekies to deliver results and keep Verstappen happy.
The Austrian Grand Prix was a crucial test for Red Bull, as they looked to bounce back from a difficult start to the season. Verstappen's performance was a highlight, but the team's overall performance was not enough to convince him to stay beyond 2026.
Mekies will be looking to use the summer break to regroup and come up with a plan to keep Verstappen at Red Bull. The team's performance at the Hungarian GP will be a major indicator of their chances of retaining the Dutchman's services.
The pressure is on for Red Bull to deliver results and keep Verstappen happy. With the championship hanging in the balance, the team will be looking to secure a more positive result at the Hungarian GP and keep their title hopes alive.