Oliver Mintzlaff is in Jeddah
As is well known, Oliver Mintzlaff is the CEO of the Red Bull group overseeing Formula 1 projects. His presence during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend is therefore quite significant, as it comes after the disappointing race in Bahrain and following Max Verstappen’s complaints about the RB21’s competitiveness.
Max Verstappen stays
Speaking to Bild, Oliver Mintzlaff firmly dismissed any speculation about Verstappen’s departure: “No one wants to sugar-coat things — we’re all dissatisfied with the current situation. Am I worried about Max’s release clause? No, I’m convinced he will continue his long journey with us. Max will drive for Red Bull in 2026 as well. I say this because he signed with us until 2028 for a reason, and because he recently made his position clear.”
The German executive wanted to put an end to the rumors: “Max once told me he began his career at Red Bull and would like to finish it with us. As far as I know, nothing has changed. We’ve benefited greatly from his presence, as we’re talking about the best driver in the world — but Max also owes a lot to Red Bull. A long-term partnership also means sticking together through tough times.”
Red Bull will bounce back
Oliver Mintzlaff sent a clear message to the Red Bull camp: “We’re third in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings. Max is only eight points behind Lando Norris. Anyone writing us off is making a mistake. The F1 season is long, and no one knows how each team will develop. Of course, our start has been poor, but we’re far from questioning everything.”
Oliver Mintzlaff called for balance: “I get the impression that reports about Red Bull don’t take into account that we’ve dominated F1 over the past four years. Everyone here wants to win and get back on top, and I have full confidence that we’ll achieve that goal.” – he concluded.
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