Laurent Mekies must change Red Bull’s mindset with Max Verstappen’s title on the line in Las Vegas

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If Max Verstappen loses any ground in the Formula 1 title fight this weekend, his hopes for 2025 are effectively over.

For the last few races, he has scrapped to keep the drivers’ championship hunt open, but a poor first half of the season has left him a bit short-changed.

It’s too late to do anything about it now, and the Dutchman must now find a way to win each of the last three Grands Prix in his Red Bull car.

Verstappen gave up on his season in the summer, and the idea that he still has even the slightest of chances now is a bonus to him. But, is there a way for this to be anything more than a dream?

Verstappen has ‘already entered negotiations’ with a rival team as he fears how Red Bull might develop their car over the 2026 season.

Stefano Domenicali ‘definitely’ thinks Verstappen can still win, but it would be one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of the championship.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen has suggested a ‘straightforward’ race weekend change that F1 chiefs would hate

Laurent Mekies must urge Red Bull to have an all-or-nothing mindset for Max Verstappen’s title bid in Las Vegas

Verstappen’s new engine may be game-changing over the next three races, with a more aggressive and powerful array of settings available to him.

Vegas, which has a combination of long straights, is going to demand a lot from the power units. It puts Verstappen at even more of an advantage.

But no matter what car he has underneath him, he needs his team to be aligned in their views. In Brazil, they were slightly conservative with a late pit-stop.

Potentially, the four-time champion could’ve won that race, which was a massive swing – potentially 17 points in the title race.

They can’t do that in Las Vegas, he’s too far behind. Team boss Laurent Mekies simply must urge his team to be as aggressive as possible, given the current situation.

Otherwise, there’s going to be a very disappointing end to the year for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, who will feel as if there might have been more on the line.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen sees clear reason why 2025 is ‘positive’ if Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri wins title

Why Red Bull must be careful with Max Verstappen heading into 2026

Zak Brown is trying to get in Verstappen’s head, but he’s quite mentally resilient, and where he’s coming from, it won’t bother him.

It made ‘no sense’ for Red Bull to develop in 2025, but they have continued to do so to help keep their driver happy.

The main worry will now be if the team has compromised their efforts heading into the 2026 F1 regulations for little to no gain.

If they’re not competing for victories almost straight away, then Verstappen could very well be on his way out in 12 months’ time.