Verstappen: Team 'needed' someone like Mekies after Horner exit

Max Verstappen says new Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has already lifted the mood in the garage, praising his technical background and management style in the wake of Christian Horner's controversial dismissal.

“The atmosphere is very good,” Verstappen told Dutch reporters at Spa, brushing aside suggestions of internal unease. Sources close to the team believe Horner’s exit removed a key roadblock in Verstappen’s long-term contract negotiations.

Unlike Horner, Mekies is known for his engineering roots—something Verstappen believes makes a difference.

“If someone is more technically savvy, then it’s normal that you can have more technical conversations with them. He’s just a different kind of team principal.”

When asked if Horner lacked that trait, Verstappen was guarded: “We have a lot of discussions about a lot of things, and of course, that stays within the team.”

Mekies has been described internally as a “people person,” a quality Verstappen welcomes.

“Maybe the team needed that. I get along well with him. That’s always a bonus, of course. Hopefully, we can do that much more intensively in the coming weeks and months.”

Verstappen was non-committal on whether a technical boss is now essential in modern F1.

“Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t want to stand here and talk about that for half an hour. But everyone is happy, in good spirits.”

With Simon Rennie stepping in as race engineer, Verstappen confirmed further changes could come gradually.

“Maybe you want to change something, and this is something that will happen over the coming weeks, months. For sure, he (Mekies) is very keen and very motivated. I get on very well with him. Also with Simon. He steps in and he’s immediately on it. Very enjoyable to work with Simon.”

Verstappen delivered Mekies his first win as team boss in the Spa sprint but struggled in qualifying for Sunday’s race after opting for more downforce. “I’m always very realistic about what I feel in the car. When I look at certain onboards from other cars, I know enough.”

Pushing back on Helmut Marko’s optimism, Verstappen added, “Helmut isn’t in the car. I understand you have to be positive about it.”

Red Bull is hoping for rain on race day, with Marko admitting they are “counting on rain, obviously.” But Verstappen is wary: “McLaren is the best car regardless of the conditions, even on a wet track.”

“Rain here usually means that drivers from the back of the grid can see almost nothing, which is simply not ideal. Even then, I’ll only be able to gain one place at most.”

Looking ahead to the new rules in 2026, Auto Motor und Sport quoted an unnamed driver: “If you’re going to make a mistake, it’s better to do it with the team you’re with. In 2026, you’ll be able to make a much better choice with more knowledge.”]]>