Laurent Mekies says Max Verstappen simply has more ‘brainpower’ than his Formula 1 rivals

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Laurent Mekies has been blown away by the talents of his star driver at Red Bull since joining the team last year, and has identified one of the main reasons why Max Verstappen is so superior to his rivals in F1.

With a new era of regulations now upon us, Max Verstappen is eyeing a potential opportunity at becoming a five-time world champion after losing out on the title to Lando Norris by just two points last year.

The new ruleset sees the electrical power of an F1 engine increase to 50%, and Helmut Marko believes Verstappen already has a ‘huge advantage’ heading into the new season due to his superb energy management.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is aware of the challenges he faces with Verstappen this season, but the Frenchman seems to have already won the Dutchman over after being given the tools to mount a late championship battle in 2025.

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen has been told why he ‘shouldn’t’ be able to win in Red Bull’s F1 car

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Laurent Mekies details the three areas in which Max Verstappen excels at Red Bull over his F1 rivals

During an interview with De Telegraaf, the Red Bull chief touched upon the attributes that make Verstappen such a formidable opponent for his F1 rivals.

Mekies specified three specific areas in which Red Bull have an advantage with the Dutchman in the seat, saying, “I think we have a triple advantage with Max.

“First of all, because of his level of commitment. Secondly, his feel for the car and the extra brainpower he has in the car to deal with all those issues. The influence of drivers on performance will increase with the new regulations.

“Finally, Max can push the team in the right direction like no other, so that we can get even more out of the car and engine. In that respect, he gives us a significant boost.”

The extra ‘brainpower’ that Verstappen brings to the table helps in all areas of Red Bull’s charge ahead of the new season, as evidenced by Mekies’ admission that the four-time world champion is involved in every conversation.

The Frenchman added, “The fact that we are now objectively describing the state of affairs does not mean that we do not have the ambition to become number 1. That is the only mindset that suits Red Bull.

“So let there be no doubt about what our ultimate goal is. Max is involved in every discussion, every analysis and the way we take risks. He is included in everything.”

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Max Verstappen has been hailed for his mental fortitude before

As a seasoned veteran despite being just 28 years old, Verstappen’s introduction to Formula 1 from such an early age has seen him grow into one of the most experienced drivers on the grid.

With experience comes a heightened sense of composure in any given scenario, and the Dutchman has been hailed for a superior mental capacity over his rivals in the past.

Former Red Bull teammate Alex Albon identified it as a key trait of Verstappen’s in a verdict on what makes the four-time world champion such a successful driver.

Verstappen’s performance coach believes Jos Verstappen’s karting exercises were crucial in the Red Bull star’s mental development, highlighting the attribute in a similar way to Albon.