Red Bull chief responds to seismic Max Verstappen retirement comments after Japanese Grnad Prix

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has dismissed speculation that Max Verstappen might walk away from Formula 1, expressing confidence the four-time world champion's mood will improve once the team delivers a faster car. Speaking on Sunday evening in Japan, Mekies made clear the team has no concerns about losing their star driver. "We are having zero discussions about those aspects," Mekies said. "We have a lot of work to do, but I'm sure by the time we give him a fast car, he will be a much happier Max." TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The team boss added that providing Verstappen with machinery he can push to make a difference remains their sole priority. Verstappen's comments came after a disappointing eighth-place result at Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, where the 28-year-old openly questioned his long-term commitment to the sport. Despite holding a Red Bull contract running until the end of 2028, the Dutchman revealed he was contemplating his future in Formula 1. Crucially, Verstappen insisted his doubts were not triggered by Red Bull's difficult start to the campaign but rather by his dissatisfaction with how racing has evolved under the sport's new technical regulations. "Of course I try to adapt to it, but it's not nice the way you have to race," Verstappen said. "It's really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it's just not what I want to do." LATEST SPORTS NEWS: Golf star breaks down in tears and hugs wife after winning first tournament since life-or-death surgery Erling Haaland spends more than half his £500,000-a-week salary on luxury present for himself Former England star Jermain Defoe, 43, secures first football management job Mekies acknowledged that Red Bull has fallen to fourth in the pecking order, trailing Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, with the deficit growing since the season opener in Melbourne. "There is nothing to be happy about today," Mekies said. "But now, McLaren is at that same level. So, we are a distant fourth. That's the reality." The team principal conceded Red Bull is grappling with fundamental issues beyond simple setup adjustments, describing a combination of underlying performance shortfalls and an inability to extract sufficient pace from their package. However, Mekies expressed faith in his organisation's ability to overcome such challenges, noting that solving complex technical limitations is precisely what the team excels at. Mekies revealed that Verstappen's frustrations with the current regulations are shared across the paddock, with teams, the FIA, F1 and drivers all in agreement that qualifying should return to flat-out competition. "I think we all would like to see qualifying to be a flat-out qualifying or as close as possible to flat-out qualifying," Mekies said. "So, it's the first thing we are as a sport trying to focus on." The team principal suggested that achieving proper flat-out qualifying would naturally reduce tactical gaming during races. Looking ahead, Mekies believes the sport should concentrate on implementing comprehensive changes for 2027, while acknowledging smaller tweaks remain possible for the current season. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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