F1 Today | Mekies addresses Verstappen's future over 'GP' exit, Silverstone offers extra race in F1 calendar
Photo: Race Pictures
22:01, 29 Apr
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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he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.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 Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies addressing the impact of Max Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase joining McLaren, to Silverstone's surprise offer to host an extra race amid uncertainty surrounding the F1 calendar, here are the main stories from today, April 29.
Mekies fires clear message on Verstappen after Lambiase McLaren switch
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has insisted that race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase’s exit will not disrupt Max Verstappen’s long-term commitment to the Austrian outfit.
Mekies instead said that the four-time world champion was fully aware of the discussions leading up to Lambiase’s decision to join the McLaren from the start of 2028, and that Verstappen remains deeply embedded within the team’s project.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Mekies highlighted Verstappen's regular involvement at the factory and simulator sessions, while further underlining Red Bull’s depth of talent and long-term ambitions.
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“Look, we speak pretty much daily with Max. He was fully aware of the full extent of the discussion we're having with GP, because of his own relationship with GP, and because we are an open book," he said.
"We often say Max is not outside of the project, judging the project, he is inside with us. He was here yesterday, he was here the day before at the simulator, and so on, that front he understands extremely well that we have done a long cycle together.
"We have a massive reservoir of talent in the team, and we have every opportunity to make that a chance to go to a different, stronger level."
Laurent Mekies - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Silverstone makes extra race offer to F1 following Middle East cancellations
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Elsewhere, Silverstone CEO Stuart Pringle has revealed he has offered to stage an extra F1 race at the British Grand Prix circuit if more races are called off in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Pringle conceded that “numerous practicalities” would have to be considered, but that Silverstone would be able to spring into action if required.
It would also not be the first time Silverstone has stepped in to bolster the F1 calendar. During the COVID-affected 2020 season, the circuit hosted both the British GP and the 70th Anniversary GP in back-to-back races.
Speaking to Sky News, Pringle said: “I have offered. We stepped in during COVID, and we were able to help F1. If that would help, then of course we will. There are numerous practicalities that need to be considered - the offer is in, they know we are here and we can move quickly if asked.”
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Whether F1 would actually take up Silverstone’s offer, however, remains to be seen. F1’s chief communications officer, Liam Parker also told Sky News: "Everyone can just look at the TV and see the news every day that the situation is so fluid and so dynamic, and nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow, let alone in September and October.
“We have a long period of time until our events that we need to go back to the Middle East region.”
Photo: Race Pictures
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