Laurent Mekies, the new team principal of Red Bull, has described Max Verstappen as a 'huge asset' both on and off the track. In his first interview with British media since replacing Christian Horner in July, Mekies emphasised his goal of providing Verstappen with the fastest car on the grid.
Mekies, who took over after Horner was sacked, admitted he never feels he has 'made it' in Formula One, despite leading one of the sport's most successful teams. 'There is no such thing as having made it, you always feel you are surviving,' he said. 'You never feel you made it – never, never, never.'
The Frenchman, who has over 20 years in F1, secured his first Grand Prix victory with Red Bull at Monza, where Verstappen triumphed. Mekies described the feeling of privilege he experiences on the pit wall, likening himself to a 'kid' watching the car run.
Mekies' journey in F1 began with an internship at Signatech F3, which he called 'life-changing'. He later worked at Arrows, Minardi, and Toro Rosso before becoming safety director at the FIA, overseeing the introduction of the halo device after Jules Bianchi's fatal accident. He joined Ferrari in 2018 and moved to Red Bull's sister team in 2024 before his promotion.
