Max Verstappen makes a shocking claim on Red Bull's current environment, says 'it feels like a family again'

Max Verstappen has said that the vibe at the Red Bull Racing team "feels like a family again" after recent changes in the management group saw Christian Horner replaced by Laurent Mekies as the CEO and tram principal. The Dutch racer admitted that the environment at the team was significantly better than it had been just two months ago.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull have managed to turn the tables around in the past few weeks, with the defending world champion taking the race victory in the last two races at Monza and Baku. Now, the Milton Keynes-based team aims for a strong finish to the 2025 F1 season.

The overall atmosphere at the team looked to be much better as well. While interacting with Sky Sports Germany, Verstappen was questioned if he hoped to see a family like environment at the Austrian team. He replied:

"Of course I hope so. I have to say: The Red Bull family is top. We've been together for a long time I've always said that I'd like to drive here to the end. That was always the dream and it's still there."

When questioned further about the speculation regarding him and Mercedes in the summer, Verstappen explained that the team situation at Red Bull was entirely different.

"Various things changed back then. I have to say: Now it feels like a family again. We have always talked about it [the future] quite openly. You do it like a family."

Verstappen has only committed his short-term future to Red Bull, saying that he would stay at the team in 2026. His long-term plans remain unknown with many reports claiming that a move away is still possible in 2027, based on what the pecking order looks like come the new regulations cars next year.

The four-times world champion has also accepted that he and the team were not satisfied with their car and performance in 2025, having lost out to McLaren in both the constructors' and the drivers' championships.

Verstappen is alive in the race for the drivers' titles this year, standing 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri with seven rounds of the season to go.