Laurent Mekies has been working directly with Max Verstappen for the first time since moving from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing in July. Previously, the Frenchman only observed the four-time world champion from a distance during his stints at Ferrari, the FIA and most recently Racing Bulls.
What impresses Mekies most about his new top driver is not just his performance in the cockpit of the RB21, but above all his dedication and work ethic off the track.
“Everyone knows what they do in the car – how extraordinary it is, how consistently they drive at the limit, lap after lap, race after race, year after year,” says Mekies in the new podcast “Securing the Win”, a collaboration between Motorsport Network, Red Bull and 1Password.
“We know that he sets the standard there. But the biggest surprise for me was getting to know him outside of the car. He is just as extraordinary there, if not more extraordinary.
“His determination, his deep understanding of the complexities of the team wanting to provide him with the fastest car possible, and his ability to lead this group in the right direction – that’s incredible. He lives for racing.”
“If you call him at some point, he’ll be sitting in the simulator. And if not, he’ll be driving another car somewhere in Europe. That shows how intense this person is.”
Verstappen pivotal point in turnaround
Verstappen, who has re-established himself as a serious title contender for 2025 after three wins from the last four races, played a key role in the team’s recent turnaround.
Red Bull has adapted its set-up philosophy more closely to driver feedback and made changes to both the underbody and the front wing.
Mekies himself holds back on self-praise, but is internally considered one of the architects of this development. He is said to have improved communication within the engineering structures and encouraged the team to question established patterns of thinking.
But most of all he is impressed by Verstappen’s precise way of working with the engineers.
“He has a natural feel for the many people who are all working on the performance of the car,” explains Mekies. “He knows exactly which words to choose for whom so that everyone can achieve their best. He does that day after day.”
“I think it’s easy to underestimate how central Max is to this team. It’s not ‘the team – and Max’. He’s fully integrated. He drives vehicle development, he determines what we do for next year.”
“That’s how close this relationship is. And that’s a huge win for us.”