Mintzlaff Backs Verstappen’s Loyalty as Red Bull Explains Horner Exit and Looks to a Stable Future

Red Bull’s senior leadership has offered rare insight into the team’s turbulent recent past and its confidence in a future still centred around Max Verstappen.

Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s head of sporting projects, says he has no concerns about Verstappen’s long-term commitment to the team, insisting the four-time world champion is likely to remain at Milton Keynes for the rest of his Formula 1 career. That confidence comes despite a performance clause in Verstappen’s contract that would allow him to leave if Red Bull fail to remain competitive.

“I’m not afraid of any performance clause in Max’s contract,”

Mintzlaff said.

“I believe Max will remain loyal to us. He’s impressed with how the results and the atmosphere within the team have developed.”

Mintzlaff is hopeful that 2026 will bring greater stability after a deeply unsettled 2025 season. Red Bull were rocked by internal conflict, high-profile departures and off-track controversy, with on-track success largely sustained only by Verstappen’s brilliance. The turmoil ultimately led to the removal of long-serving team principal and CEO Christian Horner, ending his 20-year reign.

Following the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, the company’s Austrian leadership grew increasingly uncomfortable with the level of control Horner held within the organisation. Allegations of inappropriate behaviour, later dismissed by an independent investigation, compounded tensions, as did public disagreements involving Verstappen’s father Jos and senior adviser Helmut Marko. The situation worsened with the exit of several key figures, including legendary designer Adrian Newey, who left for Aston Martin.

When performance dipped in the early part of last season, Red Bull’s parent company decided a reset was unavoidable. Horner was replaced by Laurent Mekies, viewed internally as a calmer, less polarising leader.

“It wasn’t an easy decision, and it certainly wasn’t rushed,” Mintzlaff explained. “But there comes a point when you have to ask whether to give someone more time or move in a new direction. We felt the moment had come.”

He added that the sheer volume of issues surrounding the team had become a distraction.

“There were too many problems, both inside and outside the organisation. That affects focus. In recent months, we’ve seen how performance improves when everyone is fully aligned. Even without the best car, Max still nearly won the championship and claimed more race wins than anyone else.”

Securing Verstappen’s future remains central to Red Bull’s long-term strategy, particularly as the team prepares for a new era in 2026 with power units developed in-house for the first time in partnership with Ford. While questions remain over the competitiveness of the new engines, Mintzlaff remains relaxed about Verstappen’s contractual escape clause.

“Max wants to win, and so do we,” he said. “As long as he sees that we’re doing everything possible to give him the best car, I’m convinced he’ll stay. For me, there’s no doubt that Max Verstappen will finish his Formula 1 career with Red Bull.”

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