Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing head into the Belgian Grand Prix without Christian Horner steering the ship for the first time ever, as new boss Laurent Mekies makes his competitive debut in the role

Max Verstappen has spoken ahead of the Belgian GP(Image: Getty Images)

Max Verstappen says he is looking forward to striking up a close working relationship with new boss Laurent Mekies. The Dutchman was speaking ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, the first race since the bombshell news of Christian Horner being removed from his positions as team principal and CEO.

The Spa-Francorchamps race is always a milestone moment for Verstappen, who is half-Belgian and sees it as one of his two home races alongside the Dutch Grand Prix. And he will be hoping to get back to winning ways at a venue which means to much to him on a personal level.

But he must do so after two weeks of significant upheaval which saw Horner ousted and also plenty of intense speculation about his own future. But for now he will, like his colleagues, adjust to life under new boss Laurent Mekies, who was called up from sister team Racing Bulls to take on the top job.

“I was back at the factory last week to spend some time in the sim with the team,” said Verstappen as he previewed the trip to the Ardennes Forest. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Laurent.”

He added: “Spa is a classic and always my favourite track on the calendar, a very old school circuit where you have to do everything right to get a good lap. I enjoy the high-speed corners such as Eau Rouge, the layout which is different to other circuits and elevation changes that make the track more of a challenge to drive.”

Claims that Verstappen could hold a press conference in Belgium this weekend to make an announcement about his future are understood to be unfounded. But he continues to be strongly linked with a switch to Mercedes.

In the immediate future, though, he and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda will get a first taste of life under a new boss in Belgium. The latter in particular will be hoping that Mekies’ methods can help inspire a change in his fortunes on track, having scored just seven points since be was elevated to the seat in April.

“We are coming into this race in a new era for the team and it will be good to link up again with Laurent,” Tsunoda said of his former Racing Bulls boss. “We worked really well together at Racing Bulls. I know how he likes to work and our full focus is on pushing forward and for me personally to start delivering the performance we need.

Laurent Mekies is the new boss at Red Bull Racing(Image: Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull)

“Spa is a fun circuit and one that could suit us well. The Sprint always makes things tricky but the work and preparation we have done in this off time should set us up nicely.

“I have spent the time off racing mixed between training very hard and using the break to mentally reset. I wanted to be the best prepared I could be coming into Spa and in better condition, mentally and physically. I am feeling strong and sharp and looking forward to these next two races before summer break.”