Red Bull Racing boss Laurent Mekies revealed that he was surprised by Max Verstappen’s level of dedication to Formula 1. According to the executive, the Dutch driver lives motorsport intensely and actively participates in the team’s technical development.
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Mekies took over the leadership of Red Bull last year, replacing Christian Horner before the Belgian GP. Since then, the Frenchman has worked directly with Verstappen and highlighted that the driver’s connection with the sport was the aspect that impressed him the most.
In an interview with Beyond the Grid, Mekies explained that the Dutchman’s dedication goes beyond the traditional activities of a driver: “The biggest surprise is how deep the connection is between Max and motorsport. He is not just a Formula 1 driver,” he stated.
The executive highlighted that Verstappen maintains constant contact with the sport, even outside of races: “He lives the sport day and night. He completely understands the complex dynamics of a car and an F1 team,” said the Frenchman, highlighting the driver’s technical knowledge.
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Mekies also revealed that the four-time champion usually takes advantage of any free time to continue competing: “If you give him a few hours off, he will race on the simulator. If you give him a few days, he will race anything he finds on the planet,” he said, highlighting the intensity of the driver’s involvement.
According to the team boss, this level of dedication turns into a competitive advantage. The executive emphasized that Verstappen’s active participation in the car’s development directly contributes to the team’s technical evolution: “Having someone like that, who can support the development of the car, especially with new technologies like the ones we have today, is a great advantage,” concluded Mekies, highlighting the driver’s importance in the process.
Since taking over the team, the Frenchman has worked closely with Verstappen, reinforcing the collaboration between driver and engineering. The Dutchman’s dedication, according to Mekies, is one of the factors that help Red Bull maintain its competitiveness in Formula 1.
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