Just a few months ago, Max Verstappen was expected to join other stables, Mercedes hoping in vain to seduce him. Finally, the Dutchman is fully involved in the development of the 2026 car, assures Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull.
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In 2026, the F1 will enter a new regulatory era. Red Bull had to change engine supplier after its partner Honda decided to only supplyAston Martin from 2026. To gain independence from engine manufacturers who supply other teams, Red Bull has therefore established a partnership with FordThe new engines will be inaugurated next season.
In one maintenance Speaking to Sky Sports, Ford CEO Jim Farley highlighted Max Verstappen’s involvement in the 2026 project. I think this is one of the most important pillars of the powertrain’s success. ” deciphered the American. Jim Farley also praised the symbiosis between Laurent Mekies, Max Verstappen and the entire team. ” Talking to Max at Ford, we’ve really grown in respect for him this year. The way he’s brought stability without drama into an environment where we’re all just trying to do our jobs. I can really see it in his eyes today, compared to last year. That’s one of the great qualities of Laurent and his team. They all have a deep commitment to each other. ” noted the director.
Laurent Mekies: Max Verstappen « is at the heart of the Red Bull-Ford project
Laurent Mekies, for his part, praised the motivation of the four-time world champion: “ Max is very involved in projects, even outside of the car. “He said. “He tests the car in simulators, he works with engineers on both sides to understand how to develop these 2026 cars: where to find the power? Where to find the downforce? That’s how much he is at the heart of the project. ».
To undertake the ambitious but risky project of manufacturing its own engines, having an experienced engineer at the head of the Austrian team is reassuring. He’s a technician, which is exactly what we need for this change in 2026. He’s really the leader we need. We fully support him, and I really feel it within the team. ” said Farley. Laurent Mekies further acknowledged that the project was ” fou “, while emphasizing that he was a perfect fit for the culture of Red Bull and Ford.
Measuring up against veterans in the field, Red Bull measures the scale of the task ahead. It’s a colossal project, conceded Laurent Mekies. We don’t know where we stand in relation to the competition. But we have enough respect for them to say, ‘If these people have been doing this for 50, 60, or 70 years, we’re starting from scratch, we have to recruit all our staff, put in place all the processes, all the infrastructure. And that’s going to take time.’.’ »