– Laurent Mekies took over the role of Team Principal at Red Bull from Christian Horner in July 2025 and has been working closely with Max Verstappen ever since. Now the Frenchman reveals why the four-time world champion has made a “fantastic” impression on him so far.
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“Max embodies motorsport in every respect, not a single detail escapes him,” Mekies praises in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com Italy, a sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com in the Motorsport Network.
“What he achieves behind the wheel is obvious to everyone, but you can feel his extraordinary technical sensitivity and his comprehensive understanding of this sport, which, I suspect, stems from the fact that he has been connected to it his whole life.”
“He has a boundless vision; his role goes far beyond driving,” adds the Red Bull Team Principal, who knows exactly what significance the Dutchman has for the team. “He is a true driving force for everyone working on the project and plays a crucial role in the entire system.”
Max Verstappen is “an enormous added value”
“He is involved in every aspect, when we take risks, when we suffer setbacks, in every decision,” Mekies reveals, emphasizing that Verstappen doesn’t just hold the wheel in the cockpit. “With a radical regulatory change like this, he is an enormous added value.”
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That is why the Red Bull Team Principal is also ready to support Verstappen’s enthusiasm for GT3 racing. “I have seen how many appreciated his willingness to prove himself in other contexts, and as a motorsport fan, I can only understand that,” says the Frenchman.
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“Each of us dedicates ourselves to a passion in our free time, and Max wants to be on the racetrack – he loves this sport.” Whether the Dutchman will start in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring this year, however, remains open.
Mekies: Isack Hadjar “leaves no stone unturned”
Currently, the focus is still on this year’s season start in Formula 1, with Red Bull having signed Isack Hadjar as a new driver for 2026. “So far he has done everything right and shown the right attitude in terms of commitment and personality,” praises Mekies.
“He traveled to England immediately, is at the headquarters in Milton Keynes every two days, and lives in close contact with the team,” reports the Red Bull Team Principal, revealing that Hadjar was even in the simulator again between the Bahrain test sessions. “He leaves no stone unturned.”
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“On the eve of the trip to Melbourne, I see him in very good shape: smiling and composed,” Mekies adds. “Then it’s up to us to create the right environment for him when pressure and expectations rise, but he has the personality and the preparation to do a good job.”
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