Why Verstappen couldn't ask for a better team principal than Mekies

Laurent Mekies has made an impression during his first weeks as team boss of Red Bull Racing. Former colleagues know why the new team boss for Max Verstappen will be successful in his new job.

It was immediately after Red Bull Racing's difficult qualification for the Hungarian Grand Prix, that Laurent Mekies and Jos Verstappen ran into each other. The new team boss had other obligations, but stopped and explained the problem in detail during the session to the father of his star driver. Verstappen senior listened carefully, patted Mekies on the shoulder, and they then parted.

Whoever watched the scene from a distance, saw a lot of respect between two key figures within the Red Bull organization, where in the past the relationship between Jos Verstappen and the now-departed team boss Christian Horner was difficult to say the least.

Laurent Mekies impresses at Red Bull

Mekies is a completely different person from Horner and he simply understands that a strong personal bond with Jos is incredibly important. Therefore, not a briefing with his team first, but a word with the most outspoken father in the paddock, who highly appreciates how Mekies has brought calm back to the team.

'Mekies has a good feel for people'

His secret weapon? Mekies is a people person. Charles Leclerc experienced this first-hand during their shared time at Ferrari, the Monaco native told among others GPblog. “It’s great to see what’s happening to him. I’m super happy for him, when he first made the step to AlphaTauri back then and now at Red Bull Racing. He definitely deserves that."

At Ferrari, Mekies eventually became deputy team boss, at Racing Bulls the Frenchman was responsible for the first time. There for example, he took under his wing Liam Lawson, who was ruthlessly sidelined by Red Bull Racing after just two races this season.

Laurent Mekies values personal relationship

“He's very personal with you, very open to talking on a personal level, especially with me as a driver and to everybody in the team," the New Zealander explained. “He’s probably one of my favourite guys in the paddock, honestly. He’s just a very good person, beautiful family. Always working very hard as well, one of the guys there on Thursday mornings before most people, pushing very hard."

'Mekies will be successful at Red Bull'

Charles Leclerc is convinced that Mekies will succeed as team boss of Red Bull Racing. “I've never had him as my team principal, but I've always seen him as a person definitely capable of becoming one. I’m super happy for him, when he first made the step to AlphaTauri back then and now at Red Bull Racing. He definitely deserves that."

Laurent has always been extremely good at understanding people. He's one of those where I didn’t have to speak much for him to understand the way I felt. That’s always very helpful.