Max Verstappen wants to stay at Red Bull Racing but requires a fast and competitive car to be satisfied with the team, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said on June 26 [1, 2, 3]. Currently, Red Bull sits fourth in the Formula One constructors’ standings, behind McLaren in third and Mercedes leading as the form team [1, 2].
Verstappen has managed only one podium finish in seven races during the 2026 season, a slump for the defending world champion and a sign of Red Bull's current performance issues [1, 2]. Mekies acknowledged Verstappen has been clear about his priorities, stating, "Max has made clear to us that he wants to continue with the team. It's equally clear that he needs a fast car for him to be happy with the team" [2].
Speculation has grown about Verstappen possibly moving to McLaren, with reports suggesting preliminary talks over a potential driver swap involving Oscar Piastri [1, 2, 3]. Adding to the rumors, Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is under contract to join McLaren in 2028 [1, 2, 3].
Despite these uncertainties, Mekies stresses that focus remains on improving Red Bull’s car rather than contract negotiations. "We are not asking Max every week. He's there. He's pushing with us. He's helping us to find the right development space for the car... so it's not the topic for us. The topic for us is get the car back to where we want it to be," he said [1]. Mekies added, "If the car is back where we want to be there will be no discussion" about Verstappen’s future [3].
Verstappen’s current contract runs until the end of 2028 but reportedly includes a performance-related clause that may allow an early exit after the 2026 season [3]. Meanwhile, Red Bull is facing key personnel changes. Chief engineer Paul Monaghan and other staff departures could affect development [1, 2, 3].
Mekies expressed hope that upgrades scheduled for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix weekend will close the gap to leading teams and help retain Verstappen. "We expect that the improvements around the Austrian GP will help us get closer to the front-runners and keep Max happy," he said [3]. The Austrian race is set to begin in early July, serving as a critical moment for Red Bull’s performance and Verstappen’s future with the team.
