Max Verstappen talks about the big changes at Red Bull after Christian Horner left.
Heineken® 0.0 ambassador Max Verstappen recently shared what’s changed the most at his Red Bull team since Christian Horner left and Laurent Mekies took over.
Last year, the team was shaken up when Horner, who had been in charge for 20 years, stepped down. Talking to SPORTbible, Verstappen said the team has made a big turnaround since then: “We’ve really turned it around.”
Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016 and quickly showed the team’s tough, no-nonsense style on the track. Back then, both Horner and Red Bull’s driver expert Helmut Marko didn’t hesitate to drop drivers mid-season if they didn’t meet expectations. Verstappen fit in perfectly, winning his first race at the 2016 Spanish GP and going on to win four Drivers’ titles by 2021.
However, things started to change in 2024. After the 2022 passing of Red Bull’s founder Dietrich Mateschitz, there was a power struggle between Horner and the company’s Austrian leadership, who thought Horner had too much control. When Horner faced workplace misconduct allegations (which were later cleared), Verstappen’s dad Jos said Horner had to leave or the team would “explode.” Horner stayed on for a while but was finally replaced halfway through 2025, as the team wanted a fresh start.
With Mekies now in charge, the team seems to have a friendlier, more positive vibe. Verstappen said, “It’s been really nice meeting with Laurent – he’s a great leader. We’re building a great atmosphere. The season started rough with the car underperforming, but everyone worked well together, and we’ve really turned things around. That’s what you need to build a strong team.”
As Red Bull struggled in recent years, Verstappen’s name popped up in talks with Mercedes and even McLaren. But when the new 2026 season and rules began, he chose to sign a long-term deal with Red Bull until 2030.
Verstappen told SPORTbible what made him stay, even while the team was going through so many changes. Not only Horner left, but also key figures like technical director Adrian Newey and chief engineer Rob Marshall. “I’ve worked with these people for so long, it’s like my second family,” Max said. “We talk a lot about the car’s performance and future plans. That gave me confidence we could fix things and were heading in the right direction.”
He added that what really convinced him was what happens behind the scenes. “When it was announced, people were shocked, but they didn’t know what’s really going on at the factory or the talks we were having. There’s always some risk – who knows what next year will bring? But I believe with the team we have, we can be very competitive again and fight for the championship. That’s our goal, and everyone is ready to work hard with that mindset. I think that’s super important for a team.”