Mekies engages in discussions with Verstappen following their confrontation in the media.

      "It’s not the first time we've encountered such challenges."

      Laurent Mekies had discussions with Max Verstappen after the Dutch driver's choice to remove a journalist from his press session at Suzuka generated some unease within Red Bull. According to Germany's Bild newspaper, Mekies approached Verstappen in the paddock on Friday morning to hear his side of the story, while also making it clear that the team does not endorse the exclusion of media from its hospitality space. The report noted that the incident "led to internal discontent at Red Bull" and left Mekies in a "delicate position," considering Verstappen's significance to the team both on and off the track. While the four-time world champion is not expected to receive any formal penalties, the matter is now deemed resolved after their conversation.

      This situation arises during a challenging period for Red Bull, which has begun the 2026 season at a disadvantage, grappling with an overly heavy car and inconsistent performance. Insiders indicate that the car could be as much as 20kg over the minimum weight limit, with substantial reductions not anticipated until the summer. "It’s not the first time we've encountered such challenges," team principal Mekies stated. "I’m confident we’ll get back on track."

      Verstappen himself acknowledged that the team is currently mired in problems. "There’s a lot of work to do. We need to understand why we’re facing such significant issues right now," he stated. "We’re trying to fix one issue, but that approach may create another problem."

      Off the track, Verstappen has expressed his frustrations by testing and racing GT3 cars, including his own team's Mercedes-AMG at the Nordschleife, fueling speculation about a potential future move to Mercedes in F1. Former driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Red Bull is granting its star unusual leeway. "It’s great that Max can do this. On one hand, it’s impressive, but on the other, it’s surprising that Red Bull allows it," he commented. "Red Bull is in a position where they say 'yes' to avoid losing Max."

      Montoya went further, suggesting that Verstappen's long-term future might be elsewhere. "I think they’ll eventually lose Max. I wouldn’t be surprised. Just look at the car he was driving last week," he remarked, referring to the Mercedes GT3 car.