Mekies hails Verstappen for being ‘even more extraordinary’ in 2025 after ‘historical comeback’

Laurent Mekies believes Max Verstappen has shown an “even more extraordinary” side over the course of the 2025 F1 season, underpinned by a “historical comeback” in the Drivers’ Championship.

Verstappen, winner of the last four world titles, found himself a whopping 104 points off the title lead after August’s Dutch Grand Prix, but he has slashed that to just 12 with a remarkable run during the second half of the season.

Boosted by upgrades and plenty of hard work behind the scenes, Verstappen triumphed at five of the last eight Grands Prix, and finished on the podium at the others – piling the pressure on McLaren at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi finale.

In Friday’s Team Principals’ Press Conference at the Yas Marina Circuit, Red Bull team boss Mekies was asked, should Verstappen beat Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to the title, whether this would go down as the Dutchman’s strongest season in the sport to date.

“It’s you guys [the media] that are here to judge how historical a season is compared to the others,” Mekies smiled, before opening up on what has impressed him the most about Verstappen since he took over at Red Bull mid-campaign.

“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.”

Mekies went on to explain how Verstappen’s measured approach, mixed with Red Bull’s way of operating, has ensured that their comeback feels like a “privilege” rather than “pressure”.

“He is incredibly relaxed,” said Mekies. “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.

“He’s very much embracing the approach we have. We take it race by race. 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 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.”