Laurent Mekies Challenges Verstappen’s Grim Forecast as Red Bull Faces Turbulent Season

Just weeks into his tenure as Red Bull Formula 1 team principal, Laurent Mekies has already found himself in the headlines — and not for the reasons many might expect. The Frenchman has publicly pushed back against none other than Max Verstappen, the team’s reigning world champion, after the Dutch driver issued a blunt and pessimistic outlook on Red Bull’s 2025 campaign.

The clash of perspectives comes on the heels of a nightmare weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Verstappen could only manage P8 in qualifying before finishing P9 in the race — a sobering result for a driver who, in recent years, has been a near-permanent fixture at the front of the field. In a candid post-race assessment, Verstappen declared that Red Bull might not win another race this season, effectively writing off his chances of challenging for a fifth drivers’ title.

For Mekies, though, the fight is far from over.

From Champions to Chasing Pack

Red Bull’s fall from its recent dominance has been striking. After 14 rounds, Verstappen has just two wins and three second-place finishes. Once seen as a key contender in the championship battle, he now trails McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by a daunting 97 points in the drivers’ standings.

The team’s goals have shifted from defending titles to salvaging a top-three finish in the constructors’ championship. Mekies’ arrival last month followed a major leadership shake-up, with longtime boss Christian Horner making way in an attempt to steady the ship.

But Verstappen’s pessimism — particularly his flat “no” when asked by Dutch media if he could win again this year — stood in stark contrast to his new boss’s optimism. Mekies insisted that the Hungarian weekend didn’t reflect the RB21’s true potential.

“It was a tough weekend. I don’t think what you see here represents where the car is at,” Mekies said. “Yes, McLaren are faster, but if you look at Spa, Max was able to fight and surprise everyone in the sprint. The season is still long. Even if car development slows down, there’s a lot we can learn. These weekends are difficult, but they make us stronger.”

Walking Back the Doom and Gloom

Verstappen’s post-qualifying comments drew criticism from within the F1 community, including former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins. Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Collins called the statement “demotivating” for Red Bull’s engineers, many of whom are still working tirelessly to unlock more pace from the RB21.

“I don’t think any driver says ‘we’re not going to win anything this year’ as a motivator to the team,” Collins argued. “If I were an engineer, that would hit me.”

Perhaps sensing the fallout, Verstappen struck a slightly softer tone a day later. While still cautious, he acknowledged the possibility of surprises in the races ahead.

“After a weekend like this, it’s difficult to say. But you never know — there might be surprises. I hope we can still win some races here and there. McLaren have done a fantastic job, and for us it’s been more difficult. Success comes and goes.”

McLaren’s Meteoric Rise

Any hope of a late-season comeback from Red Bull must contend with McLaren’s extraordinary form. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been relentless at the front, with Norris dominating in Hungary and nearly lapping Verstappen in the process. Piastri’s lead in the championship is now backed by consistent double-points finishes, leaving Red Bull to ponder how the tables have turned so dramatically in just a year.

While Verstappen still has a mathematical shot at the title, the scenarios required are almost fantastical: a string of McLaren retirements coupled with Red Bull rediscovering their race-winning pace.

The Yuki Tsunoda Problem

The team’s challenges aren’t limited to Verstappen’s struggles. Yuki Tsunoda, who stepped into Red Bull’s second seat this season, has scored just seven points in 14 races — compared to Verstappen’s 126. The gulf has been so stark that Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s outspoken advisor, has bluntly called Tsunoda’s performance a “handicap” in the constructors’ battle.

Ferrari currently sits second in the standings with 260 points, 24 ahead of Mercedes, while Red Bull lags another 42 points back. Crucially, Verstappen has scored all but seven of Red Bull’s points in 2025.

Marko admits that with 10 races to go, second place is “not realistic,” and the team will be fighting Mercedes for third. Tsunoda’s seat for the remainder of the season is safe, but beyond 2025 his future is uncertain. As a longtime Honda protégé, his fate may depend on upcoming talks between Red Bull and their soon-to-depart engine partner.

Internal Tensions and a Test of Leadership

Mekies’ challenge now is as much about managing team morale as it is about finding on-track performance. Verstappen’s candid — and at times cutting — assessments may reflect a driver’s frustration in the heat of competition, but they also risk creating friction within the garage.

The new principal’s refusal to mirror Verstappen’s gloom sends a clear message: Red Bull’s leadership isn’t ready to surrender. His emphasis on learning from tough weekends and extracting every ounce of potential from the car is an attempt to rally the team for the remainder of the season.

But the gulf between optimism and realism inside the team is hard to ignore. Verstappen’s blunt realism has been shaped by four seasons of unbroken success, making the current slump all the more jarring. Mekies, meanwhile, has inherited a team in transition, with fading title hopes, an underperforming second driver, and a rival in McLaren that seems unstoppable.

The Road Ahead

The remaining 10 races will test not only Red Bull’s technical resilience but also its internal unity. A single victory could shift the narrative, giving Verstappen renewed confidence and validating Mekies’ belief in the car’s underlying potential. Conversely, continued midfield finishes could deepen frustrations and fuel speculation about bigger structural problems within the team.

McLaren’s rise has reshaped the competitive order in ways few predicted at the start of the year. For Red Bull, adapting to this new reality will require more than just upgrades — it will demand adaptability, cohesion, and a collective refusal to let the season slip away without a fight.

As Mekies put it:

“Better to have these weekends early. We will learn, and if we can extract more from the car thanks to weekends like this, hopefully we can put up a better fight.”

Whether that fight results in a podium, a win, or simply a respectable finish in the standings remains to be seen. What is certain is that the Verstappen–Mekies dynamic — one of blunt realism versus cautious optimism — will shape Red Bull’s story for the rest of 2025.

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