[Saba Sports News] Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, is confident that the FIA will implement adjustments to power unit regulations to ensure Max Verstappen stays in Formula 1 and competes in the 2027 season.
Verstappen has repeatedly slammed the controversial new F1 rules set for 2026, under which the power split between the internal combustion engine and electric motor stands at nearly 50:50. The FIA is pushing to revise the ratio to 60:40 for the 2027 campaign, a change Verstappen approves of. However, sources claim Audi, Ferrari and Honda have voted against the proposal, hoping to postpone the adjustment until 2028. Since the revision requires overwhelming approval from all power unit manufacturers, the new rules are now in jeopardy. This has prompted Verstappen, who also competes in GT3 events, to once again threaten to quit F1.
Even so, Mekies believes all PU suppliers will eventually reach an agreement for the good of the sport. This means Verstappen will stay with Red Bull and see out his contract until 2028.
In my opinion, Mekies is reasonably pushing for rule adjustments favourable to Verstappen, while pragmatically relying on the team’s technical revival to retain the driver. That said, F1’s regulatory reform mechanism is highly complex and cannot be controlled by Red Bull alone.