Mekies Takes Merit in Red Bull F1 Resurgence: Verstappen Praises Him

Mekies remains humble in the face of Red Bull’s improvement, Verstappen praises his impact

Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies is sticking to his stance of not taking credit for the team’s notable performance improvement under his leadership, something Max Verstappen considers to be “too kind.” Since Mekies took office in July, Red Bull’s performance has taken a dramatic turn. Verstappen achieved a podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break, followed by consecutive victories in Monza and Baku, before securing second position at the Singapore Grand Prix.

“It’s still zero, guys. It’s still zero,” Mekies declared to reporters on Sunday night when asked if he would reconsider the credit he can take.

Laurent Mekies

Mekies has maintained the same stance since Verstappen’s victory in Monza in September, downplaying his impact since taking office.

Verstappen (left) next to Laurent Mekies (right). Mekies explained that the improvement in performance is due to the collective work to analyze the car’s limitations and optimize its potential, with key contributions from Verstappen. The Dutch driver has praised Mekies for his work, highlighting his sensible approach to car setup, stemming from his engineering experience.

“I think Laurent is probably too nice in that sense,” Verstappen said when informed of Mekies’ comments.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen emphasized teamwork and the analysis of details to identify weaknesses, which has led to a notable improvement in recent races. The driver added that they now better understand the areas for improvement and that, thanks to the right questions, including Mekies’ participation, the team is working well.