Red Bull Racing’s team principal, Laurent Mekies, spoke at the Autosprint Caschi d’Oro event about the mindset that drove Max Verstappen and the Milton Keynes team to challenge McLaren right up to Abu Dhabi. However, continuing development without pause could have consequences for next year’s car.
On stage at the Caschi d’Oro, Laurent Mekies was highlighted by Andrea Stella as the key figure who made McLaren’s end-of-season battle so tough. While the Constructors’ Championship seemed secure, the Drivers’ Championship remained in doubt, with Verstappen pushing Lando Norris all the way to the final GP.
Laurent Mekies has no regrets and emphasizes the incredible comeback that almost secured Verstappen his fifth world title. “After the disappointment in Abu Dhabi, losing by two points, it would be wrong not to acknowledge the incredible work Max did with the team in the second half of the year,” he said.
“Despite missing the title by just two points, the way the team refused to give up on the championship in this fiercely contested 2025 season is historic. Never giving up is a Red Bull trait.”
“We tried to understand the car completely, we didn’t want to stop development, and this might have a cost next year. But for us, pushing the car to its limits was crucial.”
“I want to congratulate the 2,000 people in Milton Keynes who never gave up. I also recognize that Andrea Stella and his team were exceptional, engaging us in a fantastic battle until the very end.”
Asked what struck him most arriving at Red Bull Racing after significant experiences elsewhere, like Ferrari, Laurent Mekies said: “It’s an incredible privilege to move from one extraordinary family, like Ferrari, to another incredible family like Red Bull. Perhaps the most sensational thing about this team is its ability to take risks to push everything to the limit.”
“And these are never gratuitous choices. It’s easy to say ‘I’ll take risks,’ but then sometimes you get hurt. I can say we hurt ourselves many times this year, especially in the second half of the season during our comeback. Think Budapest, Zandvoort, or Brazil Saturday. But this is part of the way we like to race. It drives our passion for this beautiful sport and makes us wake up every morning ready for a new challenge.”
On the value of Max Verstappen and working alongside him: “Max is even more extraordinary off the track than in it. We all know how competitive he is in the car, but outside it, he’s incredible. Verstappen never stops living for this sport: you call him on Monday after a GP to ask if he got home safely or if everything’s okay with the family, and he says, ‘I’m finishing a simulator session, I’ll call you back.’”
“Or he’s driving another car. If you give him a free weekend, you’ll find him somewhere racing any type of car. Max is deeply passionate about our sport, maybe more than many of us, and he’s a perfect example of why we love it. Despite his fame, he stays connected to the purest aspect of racing.”
Fans will remember this season for the drama, the comebacks, and the respect between rivals. Laurent Mekies’ reflections at the Caschi d’Oro capture why F1 captivates—raw competition driven by extraordinary people.
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