Red Bull boss reveals what 'unbelievable' Max Verstappen did after he replaced Christian Horner

New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has revealed what Max Verstappen did after Christian Horner was replaced by the team.

Horner was sacked from his duel roles as team principal and chief executive by Red Bull last month.

He was initially appointed as team principal in January 2005 and, prior to his departure, had been in charge of the team for all of their 405 Grands Prix.

The team won a combined 14 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship titles under Horner's stewardship, but their performance had dropped significantly during the first half of the 2025 season.

Verstappen has won two races and scored 187 points so far this season but his team-mates, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, have picked up a combined 10 points between them in the second Red Bull.

Lawson was demoted back down to Racing Bulls after just two races, but has now scored more points in that car (20) than Tsunoda (nine) has managed in 12 races in the Red Bull.

Mekies, who was team principal of Racing Bulls, was promoted to the senior outfit immediately after Horner's departure and will also take up the role of CEO.

His stewardship started strongly as Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix sprint, but the Frenchman's background is in engineering and it is clear that his appointment has been made with a view to future seasons.

The Dutchman could only finish in ninth place in Hungary, and claimed afterwards that Red Bull will not win another race this season.

But Mekies has revealed that 'unbelievable' Verstappen is continuing to work as hard as anyone behind-the-scenes to help the team return to their previous glories.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull CEO Laurent Mekies pictured (Image: Getty)

Speaking on the BBC's 'Inside Track' podcast, he explained: "We know the on-track level and how unique that is, and then suddenly you discover Max off track, and you discover a completely off-the-charts level of commitment, love for the sport, simplicity, and a direct approach to the good moments and the bad moments.

"Suddenly, it's very clear that the combination makes him untouchable and unique. There are a lot of fast drivers out there.

"It's unbelievable to have that raw talent combined with the absolute love and commitment for the sport, with all the understanding that he has developed.

"You win four world titles, and you get into a more difficult season, get in the second part of the season in a fight that is difficult for the title, hearing the noise around, and you see how the level of focus he is able to have in this sort of moment, a level of calmness and the drive he is 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."