Laurent Mekies is adamant Max Verstappen is ‘more extraordinary’ outside an F1 car than in it

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Max Verstappen came within just two points of becoming a five-time F1 champion in 2025, but what he does away from the paddock impressed Laurent Mekies the most.

Mekies moved up to the main Red Bull outfit from sister squad Racing Bulls in July to replace Christian Horner as CEO and team principal. The move saw Mekies work with Verstappen for the first time, as he originally left Toro Rosso in 2014 before the latter then debuted in 2015.

Verstappen’s promotion to Red Bull in 2016 would then put him on course to become one of the most successful drivers in F1 history to date. The 28-year-old today ranks third for Grand Prix wins (71) and podiums (127), fifth for pole positions (48) and is first for Sprint wins (13).

The Dutchman even took six of his eight Grand Prix wins and his two Sprint wins in the 2025 F1 season after Mekies replaced Horner as Red Bull’s team principal after July’s British GP in round 12 of 24. Verstappen left Silverstone third in the standings and 69 points adrift of first.

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Max Verstappen’s ‘deep passion’ for motorsport beyond F1 astounds Laurent Mekies

Verstappen ultimately fell 104 points behind McLaren driver Oscar Piastri through 15 rounds before launching his comeback thanks to Red Bull’s continued updates. He outscored Piastri in each of the final nine rounds and Lando Norris in seven, but finished two shy of the latter.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Yet Mekies found Verstappen to be “even more incredible” outside of the Red Bull RB21, as his pure passion for any form of motorsport frequently stunned the Frenchman. Verstappen won on his GT3 debut at the Nurburgring this September and regularly tests in GT3 vehicles.

Mekies said, via Motorsport.com: “Max is more extraordinary outside the car than in it. We all know him now when he’s in the cockpit, we know how competitive he always is. But I have to say that outside the car, he’s even more incredible.

“Verstappen is someone who never stops living for this sport. You call him on Monday morning after the GP to ask if he’s back home OK [and] if everything’s OK with his family. And he replies, ‘I’m finishing a race on the simulator, I’ll call you back later’.

“If you give him a weekend off, you’ll find him driving around somewhere in any kind of car.

“Max is deeply passionate about our sport, perhaps more than many of us, and he represents a beautiful example of what makes us love this sport. Despite his fame, he remains attached to the purest aspect of the sport.”

Max Verstappen had his latest GT3 test in a Mercedes at Estoril after the 2025 F1 season

Verstappen used the break between the Italian GP and Azerbaijan GP in September to earn his Nurburgring Permit A by taking part in a four-hour ADAC ACAS Cup race with a detuned Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 CS. He also had to pass an initial driving test, plus a theory exam.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies

The four-time F1 champion also returned to the Nurburgring Nordschleife after winning the Azerbaijan GP from pole, as well as achieving the fastest lap, to compete in the Nurburgring Endurance Series in a Ferrari 296. Verstappen won on his NLS GT3 debut with Chris Lulham.

Now that the 2025 F1 season has drawn to a close, Verstappen also got behind the wheel of Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Estoril. His continued GT3 test and race programme is part of his bid to prepare for a potential Nurburgring 24 Hours debut in 2026, which will take place in May.