Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has firmly dismissed suggestions that the departure of key personnel will accelerate Max Verstappen’s exit from the team. The Dutch driver, who has a contract worth £50 million per year until the end of 2028, has recently hinted at quitting Formula 1 after the 2026 season, citing dissatisfaction with the new regulations and the team’s current struggles.
Verstappen’s Frustrations and Future
Following the Japanese Grand Prix, where Verstappen finished a distant ninth in the world championship, he admitted he is considering retirement. He described the 2026 cars as “anti-racing” and “like Formula E on steroids.” However, Mekies remains confident that Verstappen is still deeply committed to Red Bull. “Absolutely not,” Mekies responded when asked if Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren would hasten Verstappen’s departure. “Obviously, we speak with Max every day. And Max knows motorsport upside-down. He’s living and breathing this team.”
Staff Exodus and Team Stability
Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-term race engineer, will join McLaren as chief racing officer from 2028 onwards. He is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from Red Bull, including star designer Adrian Newey, long-term adviser Helmut Marko, chief designer Craig Skinner, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, strategy guru Will Courtenay, and former team principal Christian Horner, who was sacked last summer. Despite this, Mekies insists the team remains strong. “I don’t think we should be defensive about the losing talents aspect,” he said. “It’s something that has been there for three, four, five years. But as a management team, our No 1 priority is to make sure that we develop and create the best working environment.”
Contract Clause and Championship Standings
It is understood that Verstappen can trigger an exit from his contract if he is outside the top two in the championship standings by the summer break. Currently, with Red Bull struggling amid their new powertrain partnership with Ford, the four-time world champion trails second-placed George Russell by 51 points. Red Bull will be looking to make progress this weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, which also hosts the second sprint race of the season.
