Laurent Mekies has confirmed that several high-profile drivers have approached Red Bull Racing about a potential seat, as uncertainty continues to surround Max Verstappen's long-term future with the team.
Speaking during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, the Red Bull team principal revealed that the Milton Keynes-based outfit has received enquiries from "many good drivers" amid growing speculation that Verstappen could activate performance-related exit clauses in his contract — which runs through 2028 — and depart before its expiration.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion who dominated Formula 1 between 2021 and 2024, has yet to win a race in the 2026 season. Red Bull have struggled to match the pace of frontrunners Mercedes and Ferrari, with the Dutchman currently sitting seventh in the drivers' standings on 91 points with three podium finishes. He has been linked with a move to reigning constructors' champions McLaren, among others.
"When you're a top team, you're going to get calls from many of these good drivers around as well," Mekies told media in Belgium. "Is it a distraction for us? Not really."
The team principal emphasised that Red Bull's focus remains on improving car performance, pointing to last season's remarkable mid-season turnaround. In 2025, Verstappen recovered from a 104-point deficit to finish just two points shy of a fifth world championship.
"Our full focus is on getting that car as fast as it can be, and then you will keep your best driver in the world," Mekies added. "We also see the massive growth of Isack Hadjar alongside Max, and that for us is the ideal pairing. We try to make sure we can keep that pairing."
Verstappen's difficult season has been compounded by reliability issues and a faulty rear wing assembly that Red Bull replaced at the Belgian Grand Prix, where he nonetheless secured his third podium of the campaign. The team demonstrated last year that they can close significant gaps mid-season, and Mekies expressed confidence in the operation's ability to recover.
"Red Bull Racing's objective is only one — to win," he said. "It is the same group of people that managed to claw back nearly one second off our competition last year. Now we are in the heart of it — the last few tenths, the most difficult ones to get."
With the driver market effectively frozen until Verstappen's decision becomes clear, Red Bull's ability to retain their star driver — and manage a queue of potential replacements — will define the competitive landscape for the 2027 season and beyond.
Sources
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/mekies-admits-good-drivers-are-enquiring-about-red-bull-seats-amid-verstappen-uncertainty.5Rg4YlvY5DPuos3sPvk53C
- https://f1chronicle.com/red-bull-boss-laurent-mekies-confirms-rival-interest-in-verstappen-but-backs-team-to-keep-him/
- https://www.motorbiscuit.com/red-bull-getting-interest-from-good-drivers-amid-max-verstappen-uncertainty/
