Laurent Mekies, CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing, said Racing Bulls will solely choose its 2027 Formula 1 driver roster, and Verstappen won’t have any input despite his clash with Liam Lawson in Mexico.
Both Verstappen and Lawson received a one‑place grid drop for the Mexican Grand Prix after they tangled during Friday’s second practice.
The four‑time champion labeled Lawson’s move as ‘not very smart behaviour’ when speaking to the media after the session.
He added, ‘It isn’t luck, just poor judgment on his part. It won’t alter my weekend, but I’d act smarter if I were him. Fighting for a seat demands smarter choices.’
Lawson’s contract with Red Bull’s sister squad ends in 2026, yet Mekies stressed that neither Verstappen nor Red Bull can sway Racing Bulls’ driver selections. In my view, keeping the decision separate preserves team harmony.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing.
Mekies emphasized, ‘Racing Bulls’ driver line‑up is entirely their decision.’
When asked if Verstappen could affect the decisions, Mekies replied, ‘Max knows motorsport too well to be swayed by a single incident.’
He added, ‘The other top three teams have managed to extract a bit more than us, but the weekend isn’t over yet.’
‘We’re aiming to close the gap,’ he said. ‘This morning we were three‑and‑a‑half tenths off; shaving that down could bring us back into contention.’
Photos from Mexican GP – Saturday
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