Verstappen explains Red Bull “new direction” under Mekies – Max Verstappen comes into the Belgian Grand Prix looking for only his third win of the season. The world champion is having his worst start to a year since the 2020 campaign when he claimed just one victory before the Formula One summer break. Hope of a record equaling fifth consecutive world drivers’ title is all but gone, yet with half a season of racing ahead there are wins and milestones for Verstappen to collect with Spa Francorchamps one of the better circuits for the RB21.
Besides a short social media post, thanking Christian Horner for everything, Verstappen has remained thin lipped over the removal of the Red Bull Racing team boss, but in his first interview on the topic Verstappen’s thoughts are most telling.
Verstappen denies Horner leaving affects his future
Whilst the Austrian parent company have given no reasons for Horner’s sudden departure, there are many who believe in part it was an attempt to placate the Verstappen camp. Max has been persistently linked with a move to Mercedes, even to the point where his private jet was tracked to Sardinia where Toto Wolff was taking a break on his yacht.
The other side of the coin is that with Horner leaving, the Austrian overlords wish to restructure the racing company to reflect a more corporate style of management structure. This approach has never done well in F1 as Jaguar, Renault and Toyota testify to, all of whom fed decision making though the ‘head office’ model.
When Horner was removed, so was the Red Bull Public relations director together with the communications director and all media enquiries were referred to the energy drinks head office in Austria. Verstappen now reveals part of Laurent Mekies role will be to get closer to the racing team than was Horner because he will have less responsibility in other areas of the Red Bull campus.
On the matter of whether Horner’s departure will affect his decision making over his future, Verstappen was candid. ”I don’t think it will matter at all for my decision in the future. The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can and try to be more competitive this year.”
Max refuses to state the obvious
Max admitted that he’s “happy with where I am at,” when asked by assembled media about his future. He responded in sarcastic fashion when questioned further about reported clandestine meetings with Toto Wolff.
“There is also the possibility of not waking up tomorrow and so there is no driving,” he scoffed. “Life is unpredictable and, in general, I am happy with where I am at. The target was that when I signed my deal, I would drive here until the end of my career.”
The last comment about his contract running until 2028 has been the mantra Verstappen has been hiding behind for weeks. A plain ‘I will be racing for Red Bull next year’ would quell the rumours, cancel the questions, yet for some reason Max is happy to fan the flames of speculation over his future.
Verstappen’s next comments are the most revealing to date on the possible reason for Horner’s abrupt dismissal. He appears to suggest there was a disagreement within the team on how to proceed and now under Laurent Mekies “a different direction” from the one pursued by Christian Horner is underway.
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Red Bull “different direction” under Mekies
“People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem,” the Dutchman continued. “You need to have differences in opinion. Now, we will work in a different direction and I am excited about it.”
Whilst Verstappen muses next over the obvious, ‘it’s their company they can do what they wish,’ kind of notion he does again talk of a “different direction” being driven from above. “Management and the shareholders decided that they wanted a change, and at the end of the day, they run the team, and I’m the driver,” added Verstappen. “So, whatever they decide, it’s fully in their right to do what they want. That’s basically how it happened.
“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, great years, great, great results. Naturally, 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.
“Management decided they wanted to steer the ship in a different direction… everyone else has to agree to that and look forward.”
“More focused on racing,” says Marko
Max goes on to add he’s already had a number of meetings with Laurent Mekies, explaining “the last two weeks have been quite intense. I’m equally excited for the team.”
The good Dr.Helmut Marko has been doing his rounds with his favourite continental media outlets and to Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, Marko, he confirmed Mekies is “more focused on racing” and “not as involved in other departments. It’s essential that the scope of responsibilities for him as team principal has been reduced compared to Horner.”
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Marko denies staff are discontent
Marko who had been accused of being flippant when he told emotional Milton Keynes staff to “cheer up” is as blunt as ever with the change of focus on how Red Bull Racing will be run.“The situation in Formula 1 is becoming more like football: if it doesn’t work, the coach has to go,” said Marko in reference to Horner’s departure. “The transition went very smoothly.
“Laurent is a good judge of character; he reaches out to people, and that will hopefully have a positive effect,” The 82 year old Austrian also attempted to quash rumours of widespread Milton Keynes staff discontent stating abruptly: “We’re not aware of any such thing.”
Despite no reason being given for Horner’s sacking, the direction of travel is becoming clear from the piecemeal conversations taking place. Christian Horner wanted the freedom to run the Red Bull Racing organisation that he’d had during the lifetime of Didi Mateschitz. Yet since the death of the energy drinks entrepreneur, other more corporate types now in power see the glamours F1 team as their personal fiefdom.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
