Max Verstappen and Red Bull 'triggered' after 'single-handed' Christian Horner move

Ralf Schumacher believes Red Bull promoting Laurent Mekies was an "extraordinarily good move" as the team fights to keep Max Verstappen long-term.

The Frenchman assumes the mantle from Christian Horner, who was relieved of his duties after over 20 years at the helm of the Milton Keynes squad.

With the 51-year-old having led the outfit since it started in F1 in 2005, Mekies, who leaves the team principal post at its second team, Racing Bulls, becomes only Red Bull's second ever F1 boss.

In Schumacher's view, the bombshell decision by the team is already paying dividends. The former Jordan, Williams, and Toyota driver highlighted reports that it has "triggered" significantly improved morale at the six-time F1 constructors' champions.

"I think Red Bull has made an extraordinarily good move, in this case from Oliver Mintzlaff and Mark Mateschitz, by bringing Mekies into this position now," Schumacher said on Sky Sports Germany's F1 podcast, Backstage Boxengasse.

"It has triggered something within the team, and that has done something to the team. You can hear that the mood is very different in such a short time. The approach is different."

The six-time grand prix winner argued Verstappen does not "necessarily want to leave" the team, with the Dutchman having only ever known home in F1 as being at the twin-squad operation.

He pointed out how the four-time F1 drivers' champion is not certain to enjoy the same extent of support at Mercedes, the team he was closely linked to in recent weeks, particularly if Toto Wolff attempts to partner him with George Russell, not Kimi Antonelli - if Verstappen does make the move to Brackley for 2027.

"And you have to remember that Max Verstappen has never been on another team in his career. He owes everything to Red Bull. So he makes it anything but easy for himself," Schumacher added.

"And maybe he doesn't necessarily want to leave either. And I can imagine that if everything is fine here, he asks himself: Why should I leave? I don't think that was entirely his wish. It only led to it because the car was no longer working so well. There were problems, and internally, the atmosphere was suddenly not so good.

"From that point of view, I think it is indeed very much open again. Such a development can happen very quickly. And this sense of well-being is very important for the driver.

"And one thing Max knows, of course, is that this team is fully behind him. Now, if you look at Mercedes and George Russell, I can't imagine that he would be his first choice in terms of his team-mate, if it were up to him. So from that point of view, now we have to wait and see."

Horner 'single-handedly decided the fate of' Red Bull

Assessing the factors that Verstappen will have to weigh up in his decision, Schumacher contended that Red Bull, with Ford power, could be more competitive than first anticipated.

"And it was said that Mercedes had the best power unit," the 50-year-old stated. "But then if you listen a little bit, suddenly you hear, 'Yes, but Ford is also doing very well.' As for Max Verstappen, I think he is still leaving it open."

The former F1 driver addressed the impact of Horner at the team, and how his stranglehold on the hierarchy meant that had Red Bull continued to be successful, not slumping into a steady decline, Verstappen would not have been unhappy with the Briton remaining in control.

"That [Horner leaving] is, of course, a factor [in Verstappen's future], but on the other hand, if success had come, everything would have been a bit easier again," Schumacher explained. "I think the situation was indeed very complicated and a lot of wrong decisions were also made.

"Otherwise, Max would not have been in the situation to say: 'No, I don't see my future here at the moment, maybe I should listen to something else.'

"Horner can then put that on his list, because he single-handedly decided the fate of the team."