Max Verstappen explains huge Red Bull change fuelling comeback since Christian Horner exit | F1 | Sport

Max Verstappen feels as though ‘people are listening to him more’ since Laurent Mekies replaced the long-serving Christian Horner as team principal after the British Grand Prix. The Dutch superstar now heads into the final five races with a genuine shot at the World Championship.

Red Bull’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster ride, and one that spelt the end of Horner’s 20-year stay with the Milton Keynes squad. Since the 51-year-old was dropped from his position in July, Verstappen’s fortunes have improved dramatically.

After the Dutch Grand Prix brought the campaign back into action following the summer break, Verstappen was 103 points behind World Championship leader Oscar Piastri. Four races later, that deficit stands at 40, and over the last couple of rounds, Red Bull have boasted the fastest car in the field.

According to the four-time world champion, the change in fortunes is not down to his own impact, but a shift in approach from the team. “It’s not that I’m necessarily doing more,” he told De Telegraaf in Mexico City.

“Let me put it this way: maybe people are listening to me a little more. Or communicating with me more. Even from the top down. And the fact that we’ve been performing better lately isn’t down to just one person. 

“The whole team has an influence on that. There’s a different philosophy when it comes to finding the right setup. And, for example, the new floor introduced at Monza has had a positive impact.”

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Asked if the turnaround would have been possible under former boss Horner, he continued: “You can’t possibly know for sure. But I’m just really happy with how things are going within the team right now. Not just with Laurent, but with all of Red Bull Racing. 

“And also the whole relationship between the shareholders in Austria and Thailand. Everyone is on the same page. For such a major brand and racing team, that’s really important. 

“Many people knew things weren’t going well, but it’s not always easy to fix things. I’m also going to the track with a more comfortable feeling now. But the results and the fact that I have a more competitive car also help in that regard.”

While Red Bull and Verstappen are riding the crest of a wave, Mekies’ squad can’t take their feet off the gas during the final five rounds of the season. A fifth successive Drivers’ Championship title hinges on the Dutchman winning as many of the remaining races as possible.