Red Bull Optimistic on Max Verstappen Stay Amid Driver Market Interest

Red Bull is optimistic about keeping Max Verstappen beyond this season despite interest from other teams, according to team principal Laurent Mekies. On 22 July 2026, Mekies said the team is getting calls from "good drivers" but believes they will make the further pace improvements required to ensure Verstappen stays.

What happened?

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull team principal, has spoken about the team's efforts to keep Max Verstappen beyond this season. Mekies said the team is getting calls from "good drivers" but is focused on closing the remaining gap to the front of the field.

Why it matters for Max Verstappen

Verstappen's contract runs to the end of the 2028 season but contains performance clauses that would allow him to leave at the end of this year. He is thought to have until October to inform the team should he wish to activate a break in the deal.

What comes next?

Red Bull is confident they will deliver on their ongoing quest to close the remaining gap to the front of the field. Since a big upgrade of the RB22 three races ago at the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen has finished on the podium in two of the last three races, although endured a difficult Silverstone where he spun out late on due to a rear-wing fault.

Mekies is confident that Red Bull will make the further pace improvements required to keep Verstappen. "All we need to do is to continue to progress with the car," said Mekies. "We started the season a bit more than one second off the pace and I don't think we should be surprised at that."

Isack Hadjar, Verstappen's teammate, finished sixth from 21st on the grid last weekend in Belgium to extend his run of top-six finishes to six races. Mekies is optimistic about the team's chances of keeping Verstappen, saying: "That for us is the ideal pairing and we try to make sure we can keep that pairing."

Red Bull is getting calls from "good drivers" but is focused on closing the remaining gap to the front of the field. Mekies said: "It's working in both directions. It's completely natural and I think that's what you guys were reporting before."

The team is optimistic about keeping Verstappen beyond this season, despite interest from other teams. Mekies said: "Is it a distraction for us? Not really. The full focus is to get that car as fast as it can, then you will keep your best driver in the world and we also see there's a massive growth of Isack Hadjar alongside Max."

Red Bull is confident they will deliver on their ongoing quest to close the remaining gap to the front of the field. Mekies said: "We started the season a bit more than one second off the pace and I don't think we should be surprised at that."

The team is optimistic about keeping Verstappen beyond this season, despite interest from other teams. Mekies said: "We also see there's a massive growth of Isack Hadjar alongside Max. That for us is the ideal pairing and we try to make sure we can keep that pairing."

Red Bull is getting calls from "good drivers" but is focused on closing the remaining gap to the front of the field. Mekies said: "It's completely natural Max gets called from everyone because he's the best driver in the world and, equally, if you are a top team, you are going to get calls from many of these good drivers around as well."

The team is optimistic about keeping Verstappen beyond this season, despite interest from other teams. Mekies said: "That for us is the ideal pairing and we try to make sure we can keep that pairing."

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