Max Verstappen now agrees with Helmut Marko about what Laurent Mekies is saying at Red Bull

Follow us on Google Discover

Laurent Mekies has overseen a resurgence at Red Bull in recent races, but he has been quick to downplay his impact.

The Frenchman assumed the role of team principal in July after Red Bull sacked Christian Horner. The atmosphere around the Milton Keynes outfit was negative as the team were regressing in performance, but Mekies has looked to change that.

Mekies has the ‘exact opposite’ approach to Horner, as he looks to transform the mood around the team. He has adopted a larger focus on technical development and has been listening to Max Verstappen’s feedback on the RB21.

This has led to a breakthrough, with the Dutchman winning at Monza and Baku. Mekies has given Verstappen more freedom with car setup, which in turn has put him back in the title hunt.

Verstappen has surprised Mekies with his technical feedback and his efforts outside of the car. The four-time champion appears re-energised under the Frenchman’s leadership, but the boss has insisted that the praise should all go to him.

Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko agree that Laurent Mekies is ‘too polite’ at Red Bull

After claiming victory at Monza, Mekies played down questions about his impact at Red Bull. After the Singapore Grand Prix, where Verstappen finished P2, he claimed that his impact on the team was still ‘zero’.

Helmut Marko told journalist Ronald Vording at Monza that those claims were ‘rubbish’. Now, speaking via Motorsport.com Nederland, Verstappen agrees with the Austrian, in that Mekies is ‘far too modest’ at Red Bull.

“I asked him: “You also said at Monza’, very cleverly, by the way: “Your own contribution, your own impact is zero.” I said, “How do you see that?” explained Vording in Singapore.

“Because earlier that day, I had a conversation with Helmut Marko, and he said, ‘Rubbish’. He said: ‘He is far too modest, but his own impact is definitely not zero’.

“But Mekies said with a straight face: ‘Yes, seriously, just like in Monza, my impact is zero. All credit goes to the team, all credit goes to Max. They put us on the right track and my impact is zero’.

“Well, when I asked Max Verstappen about that in the press conference, he also said: ‘Yes, he’s too nice. He’s actually a bit too modest, a bit too polite’. Because, of course, Mekies does have an influence on the recent progress of Red Bull Racing.”

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

Laurent Mekies has convinced Max Verstappen to stay at Red Bull

As much as Mekies wants to play down his impact since joining Red Bull, there is no question that he has been key in their upturn in form. The team have gone from struggling to score podiums to fighting for regular race wins.

Jos Verstappen says Red Bull are ‘laughing again’ with Mekies in charge, with the Dutchman having had a public feud with ex-boss Horner. This will be crucial in keeping his son in Milton Keynes.

Verstappen had held talks with Mercedes earlier in the year amid rumours of a possible exit from Red Bull. However, he is now not expected to leave until at least 2027, with Mekies’ ‘declaration of love’ to Verstappen proving vital in securing his services.

Verstappen has a ‘real desire’ to stay at Red Bull and fight since Mekies’ arrival. It is imperative that the Frenchman can keep up the good atmosphere at the team into 2026, as Verstappen can activate more favourable exit clauses in his contract next year.