Max Verstappen and Laurent Mekies

Red Bull Team Principal Mekies admits to being shocked by the 'Verstappen-effect'

12:58, 09 Aug

byMarnik Kok

Laurent Mekies was well aware he would be working with superstars when he joined Red Bull, with Max Verstappen leading the charge. However, he admits he didn’t fully grasp the scale of the ‘Verstappen effect’ until he got fully into the team.

In a new Red Bull YouTube video featuring Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, and Mekies, the Frenchman reflects on the widespread admiration for Verstappen — not only among Formula 1 fans, but also within the paddock.

“When the news broke that I would join the team, I remember seeing Isack, and the only thing he could say was, Laurent, you are going to work with Max. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's great. No, no, but you don’t realise, you are going to work with Max," Mekies stated.

'Everyone' is amazed by Verstappen

“You know, that's the effect he has on the fans, we know, but also on his colleagues, you know, on the other drivers,” continued the new Red Bull team principal. Mekies even recalled how he and Verstappen almost worked together during the Dutchman’s early years.

A familiar face in motorsport and to the Red Bull family, Mekies also spent time working for the FIA. "I tell you what, we nearly crossed paths. When I left, he had already announced to us to come for a test, and he was 16 at the time, so it was a big story. 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 deep work, but he was very much a strong trigger for it.”