Max Verstappen and Laurent Mekies

Mekies had hands full with Verstappen: 'We had to completely revise everything'

09:27, 11 Aug

byCas van de Kleut

Since early July, Laurent Mekies has served as team principal and CEO of Red Bull, working closely alongside Max Verstappen. Although their direct collaboration is relatively new, Mekies has been familiar with Verstappen’s rise, having encountered the Dutchman’s talents through his extensive experience.

From 2006 to 2014, Laurent Mekies was with Toro Rosso before moving to the FIA. Verstappen joined Red Bull’s junior team in 2015, but at that time, he did not work directly with Mekies, who only recently took the helm at Red Bull Racing.

Laurent Mekies in conversation with Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko

Mekies nearly worked with Verstappen in F1 before

Mekies mentioned in the latest episode of ‘Behind The Charge’ by Red Bull: ''We nearly crossed paths. When I left, he was already announced for us to come for a test and he was 16 at the time so it was a big story.''

According to Mekies, in his new role, he had a lot of work due to the Dutchman: ''I moved to the FIA and because of Max, we completely had to rethink the super-licensed systems. Obviously, you never have only one reason to do such a deep work, but he was very much a strong trigger of it.''

Red Bull and Verstappen are struggling

Mekies and Verstappen now work together at Red Bull Racing, with Mekies tasked to restore the team’s dominance from 2021 to 2024. During that era, Verstappen claimed four world championships, while Red Bull secured two constructors’ titles.

However, the 2025 season tells a different story. Red Bull trails McLaren by nearly 400 points in the constructors’ standings.

Verstappen has also seen his lead shrink against Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in recent races leading up to the summer break.

Adding to the pressure, George Russell closed in on Verstappen by finishing third in Hungary, narrowing the gap to just 15 points behind the four-time world champion.