The Formula 1 season 2025 is only halfway, but the tensions within the Paddock run high. The last controversy revolves around Laurent Mekies, team boss of Visa Cash App (formerly Alphatauri), who openly expressed his disappointment about the performance of Max Verstappen this year. During a press conference prior to the Grand Prix of Belgium, Mekies dropped:“Verstappen no longer seems to be the indomitable champion of previous years. Maybe he has lost his hunger for victories.”
The statement hit like a bomb. Although Verstappen has achieved several podiums this season, there have indeed been some races in which he did not show the dominant form of recent years. However, Mekies went one step further and called it “worrying” that Verstappen “seems to be more concerned with his image than racing”.
Fans reacted furiously to social media. For many it was incomprehensible that a team boss from a Red Bull sister team would use such sharp words towards their triple world champion. Within a few hours a storm of reactions and discussions arose, in which some saw the words of Mekies as honest and refreshing, while others considered it pure provocation.
The situation took a new turn when Toto Wolff, team boss of Mercedes and for years a direct rival of Verstappen, unexpectedly expressed himself in defending the Dutchman. During an interview with Sky Sports, Wolff said:“Look, we all have seasons in which not everything runs perfectly. But Max remains an exceptional talent, perhaps one of the best drivers we have ever seen. It is disrespectful to put him in that way, especially from someone who should support him.”
That Wolff, who has had several heated exchanges with Verstappen in the past, now stands publicly for him, surprised friend and foe. Analysts suspect that Wolff’s reaction partly comes from respect for Verstappens performance, but also from a strategic game to stimulate division within the Red Bull camp.
Verstappen himself initially stopped, but later announced via Instagram:“I focus on the next race. Words don’t win championships, lap times do.”This short but powerful reaction was massively acclaimed by his fans.
In the meantime, Red Bull Racing would have consulted internally about the statements of Mekies, since such comments may cause tensions within the wider Red Bull family. Whether this leads to a public apology or even sanctions for Mekies will remain unclear for the time being.
One thing is certain: this word struggle adds even more fuel to an explosive season 2025. With many races to go, fans are eagerly looking forward to how Verstappen will answer – not with words, but on the track.
