Overview

• Red Bull dismissed Christian Horner and named Laurent Mekies as team principal on the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix.
• Max Verstappen welcomed the leadership change after simulator sessions at the factory and pledged his support for Mekies.
• Mercedes boss Toto Wolff declared retaining George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2026 as his top priority, noting continued interest in Verstappen’s future.
• Ongoing talks with Verstappen have put Russell’s contract extension on hold even though his current deal expires at the end of 2025.
• At the midpoint of the season, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads teammate Lando Norris by eight points with Verstappen third and Spa’s sprint race format offering extra points.