Overview
- Laurent Mekies said Wednesday that Red Bull has launched an investigation and will "do what is necessary" after consecutive failures affected Max Verstappen's car.
- Verstappen lost control and retired at Silverstone after hitting the barriers, following a similar rear-wing related failure in Austria that disrupted his qualifying and race prospects.
- Team reporting links both incidents to the rear wing closing when the car exits straight-line mode, a failure that reduces downforce in high-speed corners and can make the car unstable.
- Multiple outlets report Verstappen is in the 'final phase' of talks to join McLaren and note McLaren's recent hire of his former race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, but no transfer has been confirmed.
- Verstappen is reported to be under contract through 2028, though sources say an early move is being explored and any switch would force reshuffles at McLaren and elsewhere, with clear consequences for team staff and driver relationships.