Verstappen Targets Belgian GP Win In Red Bull's New Era Without Horner

News18

4 days ago

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Max Verstappen and Red Bull aim to reset at the Belgian GP, their first race without Christian Horner.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull aim to reset their season effectively as they enter a new chapter at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, marking their first race without Christian Horner at the helm.
As Formula One returns from a brief hiatus, McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris intensify their battle to dethrone the Dutchman as world champion. Norris is striving for his third consecutive win to cut into Piastri's eight-point lead, but all eyes will be on Red Bull as they embark on a new journey under the leadership of Frenchman Laurent Mekies.
Red Bull has never before raced without the 51-year-old Briton Horner, who was unexpectedly dismissed two weeks ago after 20 years of success, including leading Verstappen to four consecutive world titles from 2021 to 2024.
Mekies, promoted from the junior team Racing Bulls, faces the formidable task of maintaining the team's focus and performance at the high-speed Ardennes circuit while bringing stability to Red Bull after a turbulent period.
Verstappen, born in Belgium, has been linked with a move to Mercedes for 2026. While Horner has remained silent since his dramatic exit, Verstappen has welcomed Mekies, an engineer known for avoiding confrontation and discord.
Mekies' appointment ends 18 months of speculation and drama, during which Horner was investigated for alleged inappropriate conduct, the team lost the constructors' title to McLaren, and key staff members departed.
'I was back at the factory last week to spend some time in the sim with the team," said Verstappen in a team release that made no mention of Horner's departure. 'I'm looking forward to working closely with Laurent. Spa is a classic and always my favourite track on the calendar – a very old-school circuit where you have to do everything right to get a good lap. I enjoy the high-speed corners such as Eau Rouge, the unique layout, and the elevation changes that make the track more of a challenge to drive."
After a disappointing performance at Silverstone, where he finished fifth after starting from pole position, Verstappen looks forward to returning to one of his 'home' events, hoping Mekies can reignite the team's spirit to secure his fourth career win at Spa.
Mekies stated he would spend his first weeks 'meeting the guys and girls who do the magic behind the scenes…to try to understand this beautiful magic machine." His first test will be a Saturday morning sprint race.
A win for Verstappen wouldn't be surprising, given the Ardennes track suits his car, but he remains a distant third in the championship race led by the McLaren duo, whose internal rivalry could be their downfall.
Following his outburst over a 10-second penalty at Silverstone, Piastri is expected to be in a combative mood heading into the Belgian and Hungarian double-header before the August 'summer holiday,' promising another tight contest.
Like Piastri, Mercedes' George Russell will relish the opportunity to showcase his speed in the often unpredictable conditions, having lost last year's victory due to his car being underweight.
This handed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton his 105th and most recent win. He is still seeking his first podium with Ferrari, who arrive in Belgium with a significant upgrade package and high hopes.
Hamilton finished fourth in his home British race, where Nico Hulkenberg secured his first career podium on his 239th attempt, highlighting Sauber's progress this year before becoming the Audi works team next season.
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