Red Bull's reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen had just over two weeks to prepare for his first mandatory date with the media in the aftermath of team boss Christian Horner's sudden exit.
But his tone on Thursday ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix suggested he didn't really need those two weeks, with Verstappen sticking to fairly simple and consistent messaging over how he felt about Horner's exit and what it could mean for his future at the team.
While keeping his cards close to his chest, here's what Verstappen did feel was right to share at this moment in time.
No role in Horner exit
Considering Verstappen's father Jos had very publicly clashed with Horner in the last season and a bit, speculation was rife that the Verstappen camp had played at least some part in Horner's removal in favour of Laurent Mekies.
But Verstappen Jr wanted to make it clear he had not pushed for it, had not been sounded out - and overall sees Horner's exit as simply a decision taken by a company that he also happens to work for.
"At the end of the day, management and, of course, the shareholders decided that they wanted a change," Verstappen said.
"They run the team. I'm the driver. Whatever they decide, they're fully in their right to do what they want.
"And that's basically how it happened.
"We're sitting here, you look back at these 20 years of Red Bull [under Horner], I think we've had a lot of great years, great results.
"Now, naturally, of course, there were also years where it's not going that well, and I think the last 1.5 years have not gone how we would've liked.
"And yeah, management decided they wanted to steer the ship in a different direction, probably. And everyone else of course has to anyway agree to that and look forward. And I am looking forward."
Verstappen said he was told half a day prior to the news becoming official - and didn't commit to saying one way or the other as to whether it had come as a surprise.
"I mean, the shareholders told me. I have a good relationship with them. I think it's quite normal that they inform some people in the team before it goes out. I think it's standard practice.
"Surprised? At the end of the day, I think in this world things like that can happen.
"It's not like they just said 'this is what we just decided' and then they hung up the phone. You have a conversation about it. Now, I don't need to go into detail what they said, but... 'it's OK, if you guys think that is the way forward, I'm the driver, you decide, and this is how they're going to do it'."
Won't impact future decision in the least
Verstappen's contract with Red Bull runs until the end of 2028, but it is an open secret in the F1 paddock that there are clauses that can cut it short - and that Verstappen's management has been exploring his options in the event those clauses can be activated.
The clause that would make a 2026 split possible is understood to relate to Verstappen not being in the top three in the drivers' standings when the summer break begins - unlikely, though not impossible. The clause for a 2027 split is a lot less restrictive.
More on Horner's exit
Post-Horner Red Bull risks repeating Jaguar era mistakes
Gary Anderson: The two missteps that weakened Horner most
Where Horner's exit leaves Verstappen's Red Bull future
What will decide Horner's next F1 move and where is most likely
Verstappen, when asked whether there was a possibility he wouldn't race for Red Bull next year, said: "There's also a possibility I don't wake up tomorrow. So... then there's no driving at all! Life is unpredictable.
"But in general I'm pretty happy where I'm at. And I hope, and that is still the target that we set out when we signed the new deal, that I will drive here until the end of my career."
But he was keen to put it out there that the upcoming decisions, if there are decisions to be taken, will not be influenced by this team manager change.
"I don't think it will matter at all for my decision in the future. At the end, the only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really.
"And like I said, the last 1.5 years have not been where we want to be. Now we try and be a bit more competitive this year a little bit, but for sure also with the new regulations."
Another answer suggested pretty strongly that it is how Red Bull starts 2026 - under the new regulations and with the engine designed by Red Bull as a first-time manufacturer in partnership with Ford - that will massively outweigh other considerations.
"I mean, I know that this year a few bits can be, of course, changed potentially, but I think it's also more important looking at next year. Big regulation change. It's a big one for everyone."
Excitement for Mekies
Verstappen said he's spoken to Horner since the decision - saying the relationship there would not change and that Horner's family "is still like a second family to me".
And he would not be drawn on the logic or the vision presented to him by Red Bull in making the decisions.
"My opinion," he said. "I'll keep that to myself. And if they want to say more about it, they will do and you will hear about it!"
But, with "quite a few meetings" with Mekies in the bag already, Verstappen certainly made it sound like he'll give the new team boss every chance to be a success.
"He's incredibly motivated," he said of Mekies. "I like that, you can see the fire - of course he's new in the role, but it's exciting."
He also indicated that the shock of the change hasn't lingered for the team.
"Of course when there's a change like that, on the first day people are a bit like 'OK, what's happening?'.
"Luckily also, I think basically the day after the announcement I was at the factory doing my simulator stuff - and you just go back to work. We have to work on performance, we have to work on performance setting up the car here, ensure that everything's correlated in the best way possible.
"And yeah, you just focus on that, at the end of the day that's my job, that's the engineers' job as well, it's about trying to find as much performance as possible, that's what we're paid for."
