F1 Today | Christian Horner still in contact with Max Verstappen, Laurent Mekies extends Red Bull deal
Photo: Race Pictures
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
From Christian Horner's recent messages to Max Verstappen, to Laurent Mekies' contract extension - here are your main stories from Wednesday, October 14.
Horner still in contact with Verstappen after leaving Red Bull Racing
Red Bull began developing its own power unit in 2021 while Christian Horner was still team principal, but he was dismissed before it secured its first victory with Max Verstappen at the Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Horner has since revealed that while he felt "hurt and robbed," the milestone made him proud and that he sent Verstappen a message after the race, receiving a "magnanimous" reply.
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Speaking to The Guardian, Horner said: “Nobody could take away the 124 wins and 14 championships [six constructors’ and eight drivers’ titles]. But I felt particularly hurt and robbed I didn’t have the opportunity to see that [Red Bull-manufactured] Powertrains engine win.”
“I felt very proud seeing what it meant to everybody and that they sent the Powertrains representative on to the podium. I had messages throughout the team and I texted Max after the race.
"He was very magnanimous and it was a landmark moment to see that engine win. It reinforced to me that, if you assemble the right people with the right culture and the necessary tools, anything is possible.”
Photo: Race Pictures
Red Bull announce long-term contract extension for Laurent Mekies
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15 months since Horner's departure, Red Bull have signed his replacement, Laurent Mekies, to a five-year contract extension, keeping the Frenchman as CEO and Team Principal of the Milton Keynes team through 2031.
Following victories in Singapore and Malaysia Red Bull shareholder Mark Mateschitz made the announcement during a team debrief in Milton Keynes, which follows recent contract renewals for drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
In a statement, Mekies reacted to the news: "I am incredibly proud to continue this journey with Oracle Red Bull Racing, and I would like to thank Chalerm, Mark, and Oliver, the entire Team, and everyone involved for the trust they have placed in the project. What makes this Team special is the way everyone comes together in pursuit of the same goal, and I feel privileged to work alongside such a talented and committed group every day."
McLaren insiders have never seen Brown and Stella this angry, Coulthard reveals after Norris crash
According to former McLaren driver David Coulthard, people inside the team have never seen CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella as angry as they were after Lando Norris collided with Oscar Piastri in the Singapore Sprint.
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On the final lap of the Singapore GP Sprint, Norris made a bold lunge on the inside of Piastri at Turn 5 on an attempt to take P4. The unfortunate move saw the Aussie knocked out of the race entirely, while Norris ended up taking a sole point in P8.
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While neither driver received a penalty for the incident, Coulthard was clear on who was to blame. Speaking on the Up To Speed Podcast, Coulthard said: "It's tricky, isn't it? To figure out what is the appropriate penalty for two going in for the tango.
"It takes two to tango, and the person that was instigating the attempt was the one that touched the rear wheel of the car in front. So, I think this has to start being taken into account."
Addressing the mood inside the McLaren camp, Coulthard said: "I know one thing: the team were not happy, and I heard from some team insiders that they have not seen their CEO and their team principal as angry as they were about that."
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