Max Verstappen has already taken one ‘intense’ measure with Laurent Mekies to improve Red Bull’s F1 operation

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Red Bull have a mammoth task on their hands to overturn the deficit they now face after a poor 18 months of Formula 1 development.

Max Verstappen is no longer in a position to challenge for the drivers’ championship, and they have fallen down to fourth in the constructors’ fight.

McLaren now set the standard, and those at Red Bull are scratching their heads ahead of a crucial rule change for the 2026 season.

It’s a challenge for new team boss Laurent Mekies to solve. He will need to draw on all of his 25 years of experience at the highest level.

Mekies gives Red Bull a ‘clean slate’ to work from, with a leadership reshuffle set to change the way that the team goes about their business.

Even Verstappen is now ‘very open’ to a Red Bull stay, which is a positive development considering the rumours about his potential departure over the last few weeks.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen admits to making one change that is not ‘easy’ at Red Bull after team radio outbursts

Max Verstappen has held an ‘intense’ number of Red Bull meetings with Laurent Mekies already

Mekies’ ‘best use’ at Red Bull may be helping to develop the second car and driver, which has failed to contribute much, if anything, in 2025.

From there, they will become more of a force in races and will have a variety of strategy options opened up to them.

Both Mekies and Verstappen are already focused on bringing improvements, and at an official pre-race media briefing, the Dutchman told Motorsport.com of the ‘intense’ measures taken already.

“I look forward [to it] and I am looking forward,” he said. “I had already quite a few meetings with Laurent [Mekies] as well, the last two weeks have been quite intense for him to jump in.

“I’m equally also excited, you know, for, for the team now moving forward because that’s what we have to do. Looking back, it doesn’t make sense. It’s not going to make you faster, but at the same time, you do appreciate those 20 years.”

READ MORE: Jolyon Palmer says Red Bull staff are internally worried about one thing after Laurent Mekies replaced Christian Horner

What is Max Verstappen’s heart telling him to do for 2026?

With the potential option to pick between Red Bull and Mercedes for 2026, Verstappen has a massive decision to make over the summer break.

He has two races to decide whether Red Bull’s operation is headed in a good enough direction to satisfy his desires.

Otherwise, a shift to the Silver Arrows, which would become one of the biggest moves in the sport’s history, could become a reality.

Verstappen’s ‘heart’ is at Red Bull, where he has been for the last 10 years nearly. Waving goodbye to all of that would not be easy.