Max Verstappen reportedly anticipated Christian Horner’s impending dismissal from Red Bull before the official announcement. F1 reporter and presenter Lawrence Barrett revealed that Verstappen had a meeting with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff during the UK Grand Prix weekend. Horner was removed from his position last week, shortly after Verstappen finished fifth in a rain-affected race at Silverstone.
It has come to light that the decision to part ways with Horner had been in progress since the Austrian Grand Prix. Barrett mentioned that Verstappen was involved in all major decisions at Red Bull and that the team is committed to supporting the four-time world champion. The move to replace Horner is widely interpreted as a strategy to prevent Verstappen from making an unexpected switch to Mercedes next season. Laurent Mekies has been promoted to take over from Horner at Red Bull, a change Barrett believes will benefit Verstappen.
“It will help both Max and Yuki,” Barrett said on the F1 Nation Podcast. “Max would have been involved in all the major decisions and likely knew about Christian’s situation too. I understand he met Mintzlaff during the British Grand Prix weekend, so he’s up to speed.” Barrett questioned whether this management change, coupled with a new strategy, could signal a fresh start for the team.
Regarding Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver has struggled with the challenging Red Bull RB21 since replacing Liam Lawson after two races in the 2025 season. Tsunoda only managed seven points in ten races, finishing last at both the Austrian and UK Grands Prix. Barrett suggested that reconnecting with Laurent Mekies might help Tsunoda improve his performance.
“Laurent can make a significant impact with Yuki,” Barrett explained. “He can support him like when they worked together at AlphaTauri. During Laurent and Franz Tost’s management, Yuki performed at his best.” Barrett added that Yuki’s challenges with the car and team confusion could be eased by Mekies’ technical involvement, potentially benefiting future races.
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Fan Take: This shake-up at Red Bull signals a pivotal moment for the team and its star driver, Max Verstappen. Racing fans should watch closely, as the management changes and renewed focus on driver support could reshape the competitive landscape in F1’s upcoming seasons.
