Max Verstappen leaves new Red Bull boss stunned: 'I have been surprised'

Laurent Mekies has expressed his surprise at the approach the "untouchable and unique" Max Verstappen takes to racing in F1. The new Red Bull team principal and CEO highlighted the Dutchman's "absence of compromise", amongst other factors, when reflecting on what the 27-year-old is like behind the scenes. Mekies took over at the helm of the Milton Keynes squad in July after Christian Horner was relieved of his duties following two decades at the six-time constructors' champions. Verstappen reached the milestone of 200 grands prix with Red Bull at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and despite a torrid weekend on track, it allowed his new boss to speak about what it has been like working with the 65-time grand prix winner, albeit only for a few weeks. "You get to know him a little bit better... and you discover everything that is behind what you see on track," Mekies said on The Inside Track podcast "And then suddenly you understand, okay, yes, that's how you get to such an unbelievable level. "What I mean by that is that we know the on-track level and how unique that is, and then suddenly you discover Max off-track, and you discover completely off the chart level of commitment [and] love for the sport, simplicity and a direct approach to the good moments and the bad moments, and suddenly, it's becomes very clear that the combination of the two makes it untouchable and unique. "There are a lot of fast drivers out there, [but] it's an unbelievable combination to have that raw talent combined with the absolute love and commitment for the sport, and with all the understanding that he has developed thanks to both aspects." 'You can see in my words... I have been surprised' Mekies elaborated on what distinguishes Verstappen from other drivers, zeroing in on how the four-time F1 drivers' champion has been able to remain focused even though he no longer has any realistic hope of retaining his crown. When it was put to him that he sounded surprised by what he has discovered about Red Bull's star driver, the 48-year-old agreed. "You can see in my words... I have been surprised," the Frenchman conceded. "It's always easy to think, you win four world titles, you get into a more difficult season, get in the second part of that season, it's a fight that is difficult for the title... "You also hear the noise around, and you see the level of focus he is able to have in this environment, the level of calmness and drive he's going to bring to the team, the total absence of compromise in the approach he has, and in the level of preparation he has before and after the race. "I was surprised, it's fair to say."