Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies believes this season has revealed a new, deeper layer of Max Verstappen’s brilliance – one forged through resilience, composure and what he calls a “historical comeback” in the championship fight.
After finding himself a scarcely believable 104 points adrift following the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Verstappen has bulldozed that gap down to just 12 heading into Sunday’s Abu Dhabi showdown.
Five wins from the last eight races – and podiums at all of them – have turned the title race on its head and thrust Red Bull back into the spotlight.
‘An Even More Extraordinary Max’
Asked whether a last-gasp title victory would make this Verstappen’s greatest season yet, Mekies deflected the judgement but not the praise.
“It’s you guys [the media] that are here to judge how historical a season is compared to the others,” he said with a grin.
But what Mekies has witnessed from the cockpit side of the garage has left a deep impression.
“I think whether or not Max will win, it’s probably fair to say that the world discovered an even more extraordinary Max this season, after his fourth world title.
“It’s a bit because of the magnitude of the comeback, a bit because he has been so relaxed, so well seated in the team, embracing so much the challenge with the right spirit.
“It’s a bit also because we have seen him racing elsewhere. I think it has taken a part of our heart when we have seen him spending his free weekends, being a new dad, racing with GT3 cars around the world.
“I don’t know. It’s up to you guys to say if in that case that would become the best of his titles, but for sure, in terms of whatever happens next, the scale of the comeback is something that hopefully will go in a few history books.”
It’s a bold statement, but few would argue with it given Verstappen’s late-season surge – a run that has heaped pressure on McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who had seemed destined to fight this finale out between themselves.
Calm, Composed, and Championship-Ready
Mekies went on to describe how Verstappen’s personality and the team’s mindset have combined to transform a monumental uphill climb into something far more joyful than nerve-shredding.
“He is incredibly relaxed,” Mekies said. “There is no acting there. Honestly, he has been like that for the little that I’ve seen of him in the second part of the year. He has been like that in the bad moments and in the positive moments.”
©RedBull
Red Bull’s race-by-race philosophy has been key.
“He’s very much embracing the approach we have, we take it race by race,” added the Frenchman.
“We never quite looked at the championship points. We always felt that we go to a race, try to get the car in the right window, which is difficult enough…
“In the second part of the year, if we were doing that, it would mean that he would have a chance to fight for the win. On Sunday night, you look in each other’s eyes and you know if you’re doing a good job or not. The points are just the consequence.”
That approach has turned pressure into motivation, says Mekies.
“That approach has given both Max and the team the confidence of focusing on the right things and not to feel a pressure, but instead to feel a privilege to be in a historical fight and a historical comeback,” he said.
As the Abu Dhabi finale looms, Verstappen stands on the brink of one of Formula 1’s most dramatic title turnarounds. Whether he completes the comeback or not, Mekies is convinced: the world has seen something special this year – and an even more extraordinary version of the sport’s reigning force.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
