Max Verstappen says Red Bull feels calmer since Christian Horner’s departure, crediting Laurent Mekies’s leadership for a less stressful environment that helps performance, in comments to the Press Association.

He contrasts fans’ appetite for drama with a driver’s need for harmony, preferring people “get on” rather than fuel conflict. That stance follows Horner’s exit as team principal.

Since Mekies took charge last year, Verstappen describes a calmer operation focused on execution and operational consistency. Red Bull has already taken one win under the new structure.

Verstappen frames stress reduction as performance gain in a sport already demanding. A quieter garage helps communication, decision-making, and tyre-management calls during volatile races.

He acknowledges Horner’s past achievements but stays focused on the current setup, remaining noncommittal about any return. Context around that departure is covered in our Horner exit analysis.

Mekies, formerly of Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls, now serves as team principal and CEO. The change aims to stabilise culture and refine processes across strategy, reliability, and pit-stops.

Early results are modest but directionally positive. Fewer flashpoints reduce error risk, supporting cleaner weekends and sharper racecraft. That foundation matters as Verstappen assesses rivals’ pace and evolving regulations.

The tone may be “not as spicy,” as Verstappen puts it, but calmer structures often underpin sustained scoring. Red Bull’s task is converting stability into repeatable execution and further victories.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.