As rumors linking Max Verstappen to McLaren grow, Andrea Stella refuses to dwell on Red Bull’s situation and prefers to focus on his team’s challenges.
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Speculations about Max Verstappen’s future continue to grow. According to information from PlanetF1.com, the four-time world champion is engaged in advanced discussions with McLaren for a transfer in 2027.
Red Bull’s sporting situation partly explains these rumors. After nine rounds, Verstappen is only seventh in the world championship and is going through one of the most difficult seasons of his recent career.
Although he is officially tied to Red Bull until the end of 2028, his contract contains a performance clause allowing him to leave the team if he is not in the top two of the championship at the summer break.
Before the last two races preceding the August break, the Dutch driver is 78 points behind George Russell, currently second, while only 50 points remain to be awarded. Unless there is a spectacular turnaround, this clause could therefore be activated.
Andrea Stella refuses to comment on Red Bull’s situation
After the British Grand Prix, Andrea Stella was asked how he would handle the situation if he were in Laurent Mekies’ position, now head of Red Bull.
The McLaren boss preferred to refocus the discussion on his own work: “You know what? I already have enough to do at McLaren to find half a second as quickly as possible.”
Stella reminds that McLaren is far from having a perfect start to the season: “We must not forget that we have also encountered reliability problems, both on the power unit side and the chassis.”
The Italian director even believes that some operational details remain improvable.
“Even today, I think we should have stopped Oscar Piastri one lap earlier. We would have gained some time in the race.”
Before concluding with a touch of humor: “As Andrea Stella, I already have enough work without thinking about what Laurent (Mekies, Red Bull’s director, ed.) should do.”
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Expressed support for Laurent Mekies
While refusing to comment on Red Bull’s strategic choices, Stella did not fail to praise Laurent Mekies’ work.
“Laurent is a very competent, very intelligent person. I am convinced he will do everything necessary.”
The McLaren boss even hopes to see Red Bull quickly regain competitiveness to offer more spectacle on track.
“I hope McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari can fight together so that the second half of the season is even more exciting.”
Verstappen also defends his director
Stella’s statements come as Max Verstappen recently defended Laurent Mekies.
Asked after the British Grand Prix about the work done by the Frenchman since taking over Red Bull, the Dutchman refused to blame anyone for the current difficulties.
“Everyone is doing their best. I don’t want to accuse anyone. It’s simply painful for everyone to live through this situation.”
For his part, Mekies recently explained that the main lesson from his first year at Red Bull was the quality of the teams based in Milton Keynes.
Despite the many challenges faced in recent months, he emphasized the exceptional level of the team’s engineers and technicians, while reminding that Red Bull had to simultaneously fight in the championship and develop its first engine designed with Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
While rumors about Max Verstappen continue to intensify, McLaren, through Andrea Stella, prefers for now to keep its focus exclusively on its own performance.
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