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As Laurent Mekies predicted in the lead-up to the Miami Grand Prix, a smile returned to the face of Max Verstappen at Red Bull, thanks to the RB22’s new upgrades.
Since the very first day of pre-season testing with F1’s new generation of cars, Max Verstappen has been an unhappy figure inside the Red Bull garages due to the revised regulations.
In fact, the brother of the Dutchman’s partner, Nelson Piquet Jr, revealed that there is a chance that Verstappen will walk away from F1 if his unhappiness continues to unravel over the course of the 2026 term.
Will Max Verstappen be a Red Bull Formula 1 driver in 2027?
It has been noted that the root of the four-time world champion’s qualms with the new rules may stem from the RB22’s sub-optimal performance. The first three rounds of the term marked Verstappen’s worst-ever start in F1 with the Austrian constructor.
Of course, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is well aware of his star driver’s qualms, and predicted that Verstappen would start smiling again once he felt the RB22’s improvement following its new upgrades for the Miami Grand Prix.
- READ MORE: Max Verstappen sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ after impressive Miami Grand Prix qualifying
‘Everyone’ around Max Verstappen saw his ‘eagerness to race’ return in Miami
In a recent episode of Telesport’s Formula 1 podcast, journalist Erik van Haren shared the sentiments that came from Verstappen’s entourage inside the Miami Grand Prix paddock.
He began by highlighting that Verstappen is still not satisfied with the rules despite F1’s amendments ahead of the fourth round of the season, but Red Bull’s improvements have set him on the right course to start enjoying the sport again.
“You do notice that when he has a slightly better car again,” van Haren added, before continuing with, “One he can really fight with, then as a driver you naturally feel more like racing. That naturally goes hand in hand.
- READ MORE: Martin Brundle saw Max Verstappen ‘starting to trust’ his Red Bull F1 car during Miami Sprint
“You could see that in the people around him, too. He had his little sister with him, of course. His mum, you name it. But also people further afield with whom he naturally has a lot of contact. Everyone could see in him that he had a bit more eagerness to race again.
“Of course, they know they’re nowhere near there yet. And I think Mekies’ approach in this, and the things he says about that development race, they shouldn’t celebrate too soon when things are going well. Just like with that engine.
Have you changed your mind about what Max Verstappen can achieve this season?
“I think that’s a very good approach, because they’re obviously nowhere near the finish line yet. It’s just that it’s a massive step forward, as they’ve said, also in terms of the whole atmosphere in the team since Japan.
“Because, as you say, back then the general feeling was that Red Bull’s season was basically over, already written off.”
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