Max Verstappen’s renewal with Red Bull until the end of 2030 ended doubts about the future of the four-time world champion in Formula 1. For Laurent Mekies, however, continuity also means maintaining a relationship marked by demands, frankness, and the goal of winning races again.
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“You know, the simple truth is that Max has always said he wanted to stay at Red Bull,” he told the official category website. “He said that from the first conversation we had about the contract extension to the last conversation. When we finally agreed on everything, he said: ‘I told you I always wanted to stay!'”
The team also arrives at the current moment after having pushed until the end in the title fight last year. The difficulties generated frustrations, but according to Mekies, they are a consequence of the same ambition that unites driver and team: “Obviously, we pushed very hard until the end in the title fight last year, so we had our moments of frustration, but that is because we are united by this unique desire to win.”
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“We have only one mission, and that is to win,” he added. “So, whenever we are not winning, we will be – and will continue to be – brutally honest with each other. We will challenge each other and express frustrations, because that is how we all feel as competitors, and that is what gets us out of bed every day,” Mekies concluded.
Red Bull faces the possibility of its first winless season since 2015. For Verstappen, it would also be the first time since his debut year at Toro Rosso that he would finish a championship without winning.
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