Key Highlights
- Laurent Mekies confirmed that Racing Bulls will maintain full autonomy over its 2027 Formula 1 driver line-up, independent of Max Verstappen or Red Bull Racing.
- Both Verstappen and Liam Lawson were issued one-place grid penalties following on-track contact during second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.
- Verstappen criticized Lawson’s driving as “not very smart behaviour” in relation to fighting for a seat, but Mekies dismissed claims that the incident will impact contractual decisions.
Racing Bulls will have complete authority when determining its Formula 1 driver roster for the 2027 season, with Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen holding no influence over the outcome despite friction on track at the Mexican Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies clarified the operational boundaries between the two squads following a Friday practice collision between Verstappen and Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson.
Friday Practice Collision Leads to Stewards’ Penalties
The on-track tension flared during the second practice session in Mexico City when Verstappen and Lawson made contact. Following an investigation into the incident, race stewards handed both drivers a one-place grid penalty for the Mexican Grand Prix.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, did not hold back his frustration when addressing the media after the session, highlighting Lawson’s precarious contractual position. Well, I don’t think it’s called unlucky. Maybe not very smart behaviour, what he was trying to do there,
the Dutchman explained. I mean, at the end of the day it’s not going to change my weekend, but if I were him I would act a little bit smarter. Also, when you’re fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behaviour.
Mekies Defends Autonomy of Racing Bulls Driver Decisions
Lawson’s current deal with the Red Bull sister outfit is set to expire at the end of the 2026 season. Despite Verstappenâs pointed remarks regarding Lawsonâs future, Mekies stated that the reigning champion’s perspective would not play a role in internal team appointments.
No, I think you know you have to separate both aspects. You have some things that were very unnecessary on the track and therefore are frustrating for the drivers involved and frustrating for the teams involved, and this is probably what you hear with Max’s answer, and then there are driver decisions,
Mekies told Sky Sports F1. Racing Bulls [driver line-up is] down to them and only down to them.
Mekies expanded on the matter when questioned directly on whether Verstappen possesses any leverage over Racing Bulls: Max knows motorsport far too much to be influenced by a single episode anyway. I think so far we’ve been on the back foot.
Red Bull Seeking Pace Deficit Recovery
Beyond managing internal politics, Mekies addressed the competitive challenges facing the team throughout the weekend in Mexico. Facing stiff competition, the outfit spent Saturday evaluating setup changes to bridge the gap to the front-runners.
The other three top teams have been somehow extracting a bit more than us, but the weekend is not finished. The guys have been putting the best shot at the last modification we can do to the car,
Mekies said. Let’s see if we can get a bit closer to the top. When things were very bad this morning, we were about three and a half tenths away. If we can close a bit of that gap, it should put us back in the mix.
Why This Matters
Driver movements between Red Bull Racing and its sister outfit, Racing Bulls, often draw heavy scrutiny due to their shared ownership under the broader Red Bull motorsport umbrella. With Liam Lawson under contract through 2026, every on-track interaction carries substantial career implications, especially when clashing with the organization’s marquee driver. By openly stating that driver selection remains isolated from Verstappen’s critique and that Racing Bulls governs its own decisions for 2027, management is actively attempting to defuse suggestions of intra-organizational bias while shielding junior drivers from peer influence off the circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson penalized at the Mexican Grand Prix?
Both drivers received a one-place grid penalty after stewards reviewed a collision between them during the second free practice session on Friday.
Does Max Verstappen have any input into Racing Bulls’ driver market choices?
No. Laurent Mekies confirmed that Racing Bulls driver selections remain entirely separate from on-track flare-ups and are decided exclusively by Racing Bulls management.
When does Liam Lawsonâs current Racing Bulls contract end?
Lawson’s contract with the Red Bull sister team runs through the conclusion of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
