Overview

• Red Bull begins its Spa sprint weekend under new principal Laurent Mekies after shareholders removed Christian Horner earlier this month.
• Max Verstappen, contracted through 2028 with performance-based exit clauses, says Horner’s sacking will not change his plans and praises Mekies’ technical focus.
• Toto Wolff confirms George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes’ 2026 drivers, dismissing any immediate recruitment of Verstappen.
• George Russell’s contract runs through 2025 and remains unsigned, but he says his strong 2024 form and Canadian Grand Prix victory make him confident despite stalled extension talks.
• Verstappen’s midseason exit clause, which could have been activated if he fell from the championship top three by the summer break, has lapsed after he held third place at Silverstone.