Laurent Mekies accepts Max Verstappen 'taking a risk' staying with Red Bull

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has addressed Max Verstappen’s future, acknowledging that the Dutchman is "taking a risk" by sticking with the outfit.

Verstappen’s future was a major talking point last season, not only because of Red Bull’s initial uncompetitiveness but also due to the new regulations for 2026.

From the start of the upcoming season, under the new power-unit regulations, Red Bull will produce its own engines for the first time in its history—for itself and sister squad Racing Bulls.

It is a major gamble for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, which, despite receiving technical support from Ford, faces a serious disadvantage compared to regular F1 engine suppliers Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda.

Red Bull becoming its own power-unit supplier is largely why Verstappen was linked with a potential move to Mercedes this year, but the four-time world champion opted to stick with his current team.

Speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange, Mekies acknowledged the risk the 28-year-old is taking and that it could backfire.

"You know, one of the many incredible things with Max is that he’s not sitting outside of the project, watching what we do and judging what we do," said Mekies, "He is in the project.

"He takes a risk with us; he is aware of the risk he is taking, and he is aware that when you take risks, you could fall.

"He is aware of the scale of the challenge; he lives and breathes motorsport more than a large number of us.

"He is motorsport. It is day and night, simply motor racing. Even if it is not Formula 1, it is GT3, and if it is not GT3, then it is virtual racing and whatever he comes up with next."