Jos Verstappen has offered a glowing assessment of Red Bull Racing team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies, describing him as a positive, approachable leader whose open communication style has been instrumental in stabilizing the Formula 1 team. According to interviews with Play Sport during the race weekend in Madrid, the father of Max Verstappen endorsed the French executive’s leadership following a turbulent period for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Leadership Transition and 2025 Turnaround at Red Bull Racing
Laurent Mekies took the reins at Red Bull Racing in the summer of 2025, stepping in as team principal and CEO to succeed Christian Horner. The transition followed a difficult opening half of the 2025 Formula 1 season where the team struggled for consistent pace. Under Mekies’ guidance, however, the technical department and race operations rebounded sharply, transforming the car into a competitive package.
That mid-season revival allowed Max Verstappen to re-enter the victory column and mount a fierce challenge for the world championship. Although the Dutch driver ultimately lost the 2025 drivers’ crown to McLaren’s Lando Norris by a margin of just two points, the resurgence demonstrated the effectiveness of the team’s internal restructuring under Mekies.
Jos Verstappen Praises Mekies’ Approachable Style
Speaking to Play Sport in Madrid, Jos Verstappen was asked directly if Mekies served as a driving force behind Max Verstappen’s decision to commit his long-term future to Red Bull. His response was unequivocal. “I must say that I find Laurent an extremely positive person, a very nice guy who is also open to communication, and I think that is very important,” Jos Verstappen stated.
Those remarks highlight a shift in atmosphere within the garage. Communication bottlenecks that hindered development earlier in the decade have given way to transparent technical dialogues, earning the approval of both the driver and his inner circle.
Max Verstappen’s Contract Extension and Future Outlook
The collaborative environment fostered by Mekies directly influenced Max Verstappen’s choice to sign a contract extension in August of this year. Addressing reporters following his commitment to the team, the champion pointed directly to leadership stability as a core factor in his decision.
“It is also great to work with Laurent for more than a year now; I see that he has a clear vision for the team,” Max Verstappen said following his contract renewal. “Everyone in Milton Keynes believes in what we are building and I look forward to the next chapter, in which we fight for more victories and compete for championships while we continue to shape the future of this team.”
What Comes Next for the Team
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