When Laurent Mekies took over the reins at Red Bull following Christian Horner’s post-British Grand Prix exit, he knew he was stepping into one of the most high-pressure jobs in Formula 1. What he perhaps didn’t fully appreciate, until now, was that this role came with the privilege of working alongside Max Verstappen, a driver whose name has become synonymous with domination in the sport.
Hungary marked Verstappen’s 200th race with Red Bull Racing, a milestone achieved just nine years after his unforgettable debut with the team in 2016. In that time, the Dutchman has collected four world championships and built a career littered with moments that have redefined modern racing. Mekies, only a few months into working with Verstappen, is already convinced he is dealing with a driver whose influence goes well beyond lap times and podiums.
A meeting that almost happened years earlier
In fact, Mekies and Verstappen’s paths very nearly crossed a decade ago. Back in 2015, Mekies was still at Toro Rosso before leaving for the FIA. At the time, a 16-year-old Verstappen had just been announced for a test. The teenager didn’t even have a road driver’s licence, yet he was already forcing Formula 1’s governing body to rethink the entire superlicence system.
“Of course, you never have just one reason to make such an in-depth change,” Mekies explains with a smile in Red Bull’s Behind The Charge video, “but Max was definitely a strong one.”
The rule change would eventually raise the minimum age to 18, a move some critics jokingly dubbed ‘the Verstappen rule’.
From Toro Rosso to title-winning powerhouse
Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 before being promoted to Red Bull just a year later, partnering Daniel Ricciardo. Fast forward to 2025, and the once-teen rookie is now a four-time world champion, while Mekies finds himself leading the very team Verstappen has helped make a juggernaut.
Mekies’ reputation as a people-focused leader had already been well established during his time at Racing Bulls. His approach is hands-on, with an emphasis on building close relationships with drivers. This became clear when Isack Hadjar, then a Racing Bulls rookie, reacted to the news that Mekies was heading to Red Bull.
“He said to me, ‘You’re going to work with Max!’” Mekies recalls with a laugh. “I told him I knew, but he repeated it: ‘No, you don’t understand, you’re going to work with Max!’” The exchange, Mekies says, summed up the reverence many young drivers feel towards Verstappen.
A role model beyond the grandstands
Hadjar himself has openly called Verstappen a role model, often studying his onboard footage for inspiration. According to Mekies, this is part of a much wider influence the Dutchman wields, one that extends well beyond his fanbase and deep into the driver ranks.
“I think we underestimate the effect Max has on the entire single-seater pyramid,” Mekies says.
“What he shows young drivers is that you can live and breathe this sport and that dedication will take you to the very top.”
That passion for motorsport is not confined to Formula 1. Verstappen spends his free time in sim racing competitions, following IndyCar and Formula E, and hiring circuits to spend days testing GT3 cars. If there were a dictionary definition for ‘racing fanatic’, Mekies suggests Verstappen’s picture might be right there on the page.
An inspiration for the next generation
For the countless children dreaming of a career in racing, Verstappen is living proof that obsession and authenticity can be the path to greatness. He encourages aspiring drivers to stay true to themselves and to the sport they love, advice that resonates deeply with those who, like him, can think of nothing else but racing day and night.
“That impact will take years before we fully understand it,” Mekies reflects. “But make no mistake, Max’s influence on the sport, and on those coming up through the ranks, is going to be felt for a very long time.”
And so, as Verstappen continues his quest for yet more championships, his true legacy may turn out to be not just in the records he sets, but in the generations he inspires to follow his tyre tracks.
Is Verstappen’s influence on young drivers his most significant contribution to Formula 1, or will history remember him more for the titles and records? Share your verdict below, and if you want to keep the debate going, we’re trying to grow a new online F1 community in the TJ13 Jury Room on Facebook — join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/708095665600791.
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
