‘Don’t Tell Him’: Red Bull Boss Admits ‘Painful’ Max Verstappen Reality as Title Fight Reignites
Red Bull’s team principal Laurent Mekies has revealed an honest and somewhat “painful” truth about working with Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen — a truth he once only experienced from the other side of the garage.
In a recent episode of Red Bull’s Talking Bull podcast, Mekies described how his perspective on Verstappen has transformed since taking over leadership at Red Bull Racing, following a dramatic shake-up at the top of the organisation earlier this season. The restructuring began when Christian Horner was unexpectedly moved aside from his daily operations role at Red Bull, triggering a major leadership reshuffle that sent shockwaves through the paddock.
With Horner stepping back, Mekies — formerly at the helm of Red Bull’s sister outfit, Racing Bulls — was called up to lead the main team and assume responsibility for the brand’s most prized asset: three-time World Champion Max Verstappen.
A Season of Struggle Turns Into a Late Title Resurgence
When Mekies arrived, Verstappen was enduring one of the toughest starts of his F1 career. The RB21, plagued by balance and reliability issues in the early season, prevented the Dutchman from dominating as he had in previous years. By the mid-season break, Verstappen appeared all but out of the championship hunt, leaving McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as frontrunners and forcing even Red Bull’s most loyal fans to temper expectations.
Yet somehow, with three rounds remaining, Verstappen is mathematically still in contention for the World Championship. This stunning turnaround has left rival teams rattled, surprised that a driver who struggled so much with his machinery only months ago is now back threatening the frontrunners.
For Mekies, however, it was never truly surprising. Reflecting on his years competing against Verstappen rather than managing him, the Frenchman admitted that he always feared Verstappen’s potential — even if he didn’t like to admit it.
Mekies on Verstappen: “Painful to Watch as a Rival”
“Everybody saw what Max could do inside the car,” Mekies said. “I spent years watching him from the other side, and honestly, it was painful. Painful and incredibly frustrating. You’d think you had a clean weekend, and then he’d still find a way to do something extraordinary.”
He joked that no one should tell Verstappen just how much his rivals feared him, adding: “It was really annoying at the time — don’t tell him that, though.”
Mekies explained that Max’s pace, racecraft, and instinct under pressure were already well understood. What he did not fully appreciate until joining Red Bull is the depth of Verstappen’s commitment behind the scenes.
“Even More Extraordinary Out of the Car”
The most revealing part of Mekies’ interview came when he began describing Verstappen beyond what the cameras show — as a worker, as a teammate, and as an individual.
“When you’re on the outside, you assume Max’s talent is 90% of what makes him successful,” Mekies said. “But what I’ve learned is that his mindset and professionalism are just as remarkable. He is even more extraordinary out of the car.”
He highlighted Verstappen’s relentless focus, saying the Dutchman is constantly analyzing data, asking questions, and pushing the engineering team even on days when results aren’t guaranteed.
“He has this ability to stay incredibly calm, even when things are going wrong,” Mekies added. “He’s not just quick — he’s mentally bulletproof.”
A Driver Who Cannot Be Counted Out
For Mekies, Verstappen’s renewed championship challenge is merely the latest example of why he warns teams never to assume the Dutchman is beaten. He recalled that even in the worst moments of the season — double DNFs, poor qualifying sessions, and difficult car setups — Verstappen stayed determined and never accepted defeat.
“People assumed this season was over for Max,” Mekies said. “But if there’s one lesson I learned when I was competing against him, it’s that you never rule him out. This year has proved that again.”
The Future: Red Bull Reborn?
Red Bull’s resurgence with Mekies at the helm marks one of the most unexpected narrative turns of the season. With McLaren losing momentum and Verstappen suddenly back in the hunt, the final races are shaping up to be a dramatic showdown — and Max is right in the middle of it, exactly where he seems to thrive.
Whether Verstappen takes the title or not, Mekies’ comments confirm one thing: even inside the team, the respect — and fear — of what Verstappen can do remains very real.
And as Mekies jokingly suggested… just don’t let Max know how much his competitors dread him.
