Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has admitted uncertainty remains over whether four-time world champion Max Verstappen will remain with the team next season.
The Dutchman is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but is believed to have an exit clause in his deal that would allow him to join another team in 2027 should he be outside the top two positions in the Drivers’ Championship at the start of this season’s summer break in August.
Despite being widely regarded as the best driver on the grid, Verstappen has been able to secure just one podium finish across the first seven rounds of the season due to Red Bull’s lack of performance, and sits seventh in the standings – 60 points behind second-placed Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull have brought a major upgrade package to this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix and Mekies appeared to accept the new parts needed to make progress to help convince Verstappen to commit for another year.
Speaking to the media between Friday’s two practice sessions at Spielberg, Mekies said: “Max wants a fast car, [he] always wanted a fast car. He completely trusts us to make sure that we do everything we can, in the short and long term, to ensure that we return to success and continued success.
“We look at the results on the pitches, that’s all that matters. Hopefully the results improve quickly.”
Mekies warned that Red Bull’s latest upgrade package, which follows an earlier series of changes for the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May, should not be judged on this weekend alone, with the team potentially needing time to get the most out of their new parts.
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Max Verstappen stopped in the pit lane twice in his Red Bull during opening practice in Austria
He said: “We started [the season] very far away. We’ve taken that step in Miami four races ago that left us, as you said, around the threshold of four or five tenths, which at some tracks gives us the opportunity to fight for the podium and at some tracks that hasn’t given us the opportunity to fight for the podium.
“Regardless Max, that’s not what we’re here to do. We absolutely know we need more steps. This weekend is quite a crucial step to try to get a lot closer and try to fight for bigger positions.
“It doesn’t mean that everything will be solved at the weekend. It means that we have to spend some time to get that package working, it’s very big.
“Whether it affects the timing of discussions with Max, frankly, no. Max knows very well how much a Formula 1 team needs to absorb a second deficit for the competition.
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“We’re hoping we can come out of this weekend and be within the last two or three tenths of the competition, which I think in the number of races [that have happened] is a remarkable development.
“That’s what matters at the moment, that we’re able to close that gap continuously, and I’m sure that’s the most important factor for us.”
“I don’t ask Max every week if he wants to stay!”
Mekies was later pressed on whether Verstappen had “given his word” that he will remain with the team next season, but insisted he is not pressuring the Dutchman on the situation.
“I don’t ask Max every week if he wants to stay,” Mekies said. “Max has made it clear to us that he wants to continue with the team. It is equally clear that he needs a fast car for him to be happy with the team.
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“He’s been vocal about the progress that we need to have with the regulations. We’re in the fortunate situation for the sport where there’s been a very open session between the FIA, F1, the teams and we’ve managed to adjust this regulation for 2027 and 2028. I think it’s fantastic, not just for Max, but it’s fantastic for the fast driver.
“We don’t ask Max every week. He is there, he pushes with us, helps us find the right development paths for the car.
“In Friday practice he did very big tests, scans to try to turn over all the stones possible. That is not the issue for us. The issue for us is to get the car back where we want it and if the car is back where we want it to be, there will be no discussion.”
Verstappen has long been linked with a move to Mercedes, but recently speculation has grown over a move to McLaren, particularly following confirmation that his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will join the Woking squad in 2028.
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Asked once again what Red Bull needs to show Verstappen to convince him to stay, Mekies added: “I’m convinced that Max wants to see continuous progress. He knows you don’t go away for a second [deficit] to zero in no time.
“But he wants to see that road continue to improve. I think it’s just about the overall lap time, so if we can close that gap to just a couple of tenths it would mean we still have the distance to the competition and hopefully we’ll be in striking range soon.”
Does Verstappen even know what he wants?
Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins:
“Someone of Max’s stature will not fix things on a weekend. He looks at the development of the team, how much faith he has in Laurent Mekies and the background team.
“There have been a lot of changes at Red Bull over the last year, so does he believe it’s going in the right direction?
“Max just wants to be in a fast car. If he thinks it’s going to happen, he’s going to wait.”
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Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok:
“I don’t think Max knows what he wants to do yet.
“I think it’s quite simple. Max Verstappen exists to win. He’s in this sport to fight for world championships and become world champion.
“It’s not a guarantee that you’re going to have the best car, but he wants a car that will give him the opportunity to fight for the world championship. He hasn’t had that this year.
“They have a huge update [on the car] here and he actually looked pretty good in the limited run in first practice.
“If they can deliver a car that allows him to challenge for the championship next year, give him the signs by winning races this year, he will stay. If they drop to the fourth best car, Max Verstappen will be in the hunt and every team on the grid would be lucky to have him.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP programme
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments over the years at the Austrian Grand Prix
Saturday 27 June
9:00: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Austrian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.15: Austrian GP qualifying build-up*
15:00: AUSTRIA GP QUALIFICATION*
17:00: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday 28 June
7.35: F3 Feature Race
9.05: F2 Feature Race
10.50: Porsche Supercup
12.30: Austrian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
14.00: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
16:00: Austrian GP reaction: Checkered flag
17.00: Ted’s notebook
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime