The Formula 1 world was shocked by recent developments at Red Bull Racing, with Laurent Mekies, the team’s new CEO, offering striking criticism of Max Verstappen. Mekies, who took on his new role at Red Bull, broke the news about Verstappen in an unexpected way, causing a stir in the motorsport community.

Mekies expressed his concerns about Verstappen’s attitude within the team and the way he wielded his authority. According to Mekies, Verstappen didn’t always adhere to team strategy and was often praised as the undisputed star driver, leaving little room for others to steal the spotlight. “Max is a great driver, but there are times when he doesn’t always put the team’s interests above his own performance,” Mekies said. This led to considerable confusion, as Verstappen had led Red Bull Racing to multiple victories and world titles in recent years.

However, it was Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, who immediately jumped to his son’s defense in response to Mekies’ criticism. To everyone’s surprise, Jos spoke out in a fierce defense of Max, stating that the criticism of his son was completely unwarranted. “Max has always put the team’s best interests first,” Jos stated. “It’s too easy to view Max’s achievements as an individual success, but without the team, none of those victories would have been possible.”

Jos Verstappen also emphasized that his son often struggled with the pressure to perform, but always gave his all for Red Bull. “Max has proven that he is not only capable of improving himself, but also of taking the team to new heights. The criticism is unfounded and completely misplaced,” he added. This statement came as a surprise to the Formula 1 community, especially given the close relationship between Max and the Red Bull team in recent years.

The situation has put the sport back in the spotlight, questioning the dynamics between drivers and management at teams like Red Bull. Mekies, though an experienced professional in the motorsport world, could face a difficult time within the team, especially now that he’s up against not only Verstappen’s father but also Formula 1 fans.

This recent confrontation raises questions about Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull Racing. Will he be able to continue focusing on his performance amid internal tensions, or will these incidents further strain the relationship between Verstappen and the team? The coming weeks will be crucial to see how the situation unfolds and whether Mekies’ criticism will permanently alter relations within the team.