Red Bull hints at incoming calls from 'good drivers' over F1 seat

Laurent Mekies has suggested Red Bull is receiving incoming phone calls from "good drivers" over an F1 seat at Milton Keynes-based team.

The Frenchman highlighted that courting in F1's silly season happens "in both directions", with the driver market set to explode in the coming weeks.

Much of how that unfolds is contingent upon Max Verstappen's decision over his future, with the 28-year-old able to trigger the reported exit clause in his Red Bull contract and seek a new home in F1 for 2027, despite his current deal running until the end of the following campaign.

The Dutchman has tried to shut down speculation by insisting he will provide an update when there is one to give, but the rumours of a potential McLaren switch have not abated.

Likewise, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has moved to pour cold water on the narrative by maintaining the constructors' champion is happy with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri — and vice versa.

But with the Australian driver increasingly linked to Red Bull — in what would presumably be a direct swap with Verstappen — Mekies has attempted to quell the noise surrounding the four-time F1 drivers' champion's future.

"It's working in both directions," Mekies told Sky Sports F1. "It's completely natural, and I think that's what you guys were reporting before.

"It's completely natural Max gets called from everyone because he's the best driver in the world and, equally, if you are a top team, you are going to get calls from many of these good drivers around as well. That's natural."

The Red Bull boss is adamant that the speculation is par for the course and is not causing issues within the team, as it works to convince Verstappen that his best option is to remain put.

Mekies was clear that the combination of the 71-time grand prix winner and Isack Hadjar is the partnership he wants to see driving for him next season and beyond.

"Is it a distraction for us? Not really," he added. "The full focus is to get that car as fast as it can, then you will keep your best driver in the world, and we also see there's a massive growth of Isack alongside Max.

"That for us is the ideal pairing, and we try to make sure we can keep that pairing."