Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies says he has fielded calls from "good drivers" about replacing Max Verstappen, but he is committed to keeping the Dutchman.

Verstappen's long-term future with Red Bull has been a subject of debate throughout this season, which is shaping up to be his worst since 2015, his debut Formula One campaign (12th in the drivers' standings).

The four-time driver's champion sits seventh in the table with one race to go before the mid-season break – at the Hungaroring this weekend.

Verstappen has three podium finishes to his name in 2026 but no wins, and he has also failed to finish three times, in China, Monaco and Great Britain.

He suggested earlier this year that he could quit F1 entirely, comparing the sport to "Mario Kart" following the introduction of new regulations, but a move elsewhere has also been mooted, despite his Red Bull contract running until 2028.

Mercedes, then McLaren, were both touted as possible suitors, with rumours suggesting Oscar Piastri could go the other way if the latter move came to fruition.

And while Mekies insists many drivers are interested in the prospect of taking Verstappen's Red Bull seat, he does not see a parting of ways as likely.

"It's working in both directions. It's completely natural and I think that's what you guys were reporting before," Mekies told Sky Sports F1. 

"It's completely natural that Max gets called by everyone because he's the best driver in the world.

"And, equally, if you are a top team, you are going to get calls from many of these good drivers around as well. That's natural.

"Is it a distraction for us? Not really. The full focus is to get that car as fast as it can, then you will keep your best driver in the world, and we also see there's a massive growth for Isack [Hadjar] alongside Max.

"That, for us, is the ideal pairing and we will try to make sure we can keep that pairing."

Verstappen is already 113 points behind drivers' championship frontrunner Kimi Antonelli, with both drivers from each of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren above the 28-year-old.

Red Bull, meanwhile, are fourth in the constructors' table behind those same three teams, 207 points adrift of Mercedes in first.

Verstappen reportedly has a clause in his contract that could allow him to leave Red Bull, should he inform the team of such a decision by October.

But Mekies does not feel the team must prove their competitiveness to anyone.    

"Ultimately, it's only about speed. Red Bull and Red Bull Racing only have one objective, it's to win, and it's the same objective that Max has," Mekies added.

"So, it's not about, 'how can we prove to him that we can win?' We are here to win anyhow."

The F1 season will take a four-week break after the Hungarian Grand Prix, before returning for the Dutch Grand Prix – Verstappen's home event – on August 23.