Pink Bull Method 1 group boss Laurent Mekies has detailed why he believes Max Verstappen’s worth to the group is simply as nice off the monitor as it’s within the automobile.
Mekies and Verstappen fashioned a robust partnership as quickly because the Frenchman took over from Christian Horner as Pink Bull’s group principal final summer time, with Mekies’ engineering-led strategy credited as taking part in a component within the group’s mid-season turnaround.
Talking to sister publication Autosport on the eve of one other essential marketing campaign for Pink Bull, with the debut of its first-ever in-house energy models for the brand-new 2026 rules, Mekies mentioned Verstappen’s position on the Milton Keynes group can hardly be overestimated.
“[It’s been] implausible,” Mekies beamed. “Max embodies motorsport in each sense, there isn’t a single element he overlooks. What he does behind the wheel is obvious to everybody, however from the within you possibly can respect his extraordinary technical sensitivity and his full understanding of this sport, which I think about comes from having been immersed in it his total life.
“He has a limitless imaginative and prescient; his position goes far past driving. He’s a real driving drive for everybody engaged on the mission and performs a vital half in the entire system. He’s concerned in each side, once we take dangers, once we face setbacks, in each choice. In a regulatory shift as radical as this one, he’s an infinite added worth.”
Pink Bull Racing has regarded extra aggressive than initially anticipated with its in-house energy models.
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Verstappen will obtain one other new companion this yr within the form of 21-year-old Isack Hadjar, who has been promoted after a powerful rookie season at sister group Racing Bulls, the Anglo-Italian outfit beforehand led by Mekies.
After years of struggling with underperformance in its second seat, Pink Bull is determined to have each vehicles freely scoring factors, and up to now Mekies has been impressed with what he has seen from the sophomore racer upon their reunion.
“Up to now he has finished every part the suitable manner, displaying the proper strategy by way of dedication and character,” Mekies mentioned about his fellow Frenchman. “He instantly moved to England, he’s on the Milton Keynes headquarters each two days, and he’s residing in shut contact with the group. Between the 2 Sakhir exams he went again to the simulator, he’s leaving nothing behind.”
Whereas Pink Bull’s energy models have defied all expectations with their efficiency and reliability, Mekies remains to be anticipating the squad to start out the 2026 period behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Pink Bull.
“We’re all conscious that, even with a rare start line, we’re up towards giants of motorsport with immense expertise,” he cautioned. “We’ve climbed the primary mountain, however there’s one other one forward. We’re right here to battle, in the mean time a bit behind the opposite three high groups, however prepared to present every part to catch up.”
Learn Autosport’s total interview with Laurent Mekies right here.
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