Verstappen’s “deep” obsession with racing surprises Red Bull boss

Red Bull’s new CEO Laurent Mekies was taken aback by just how deep Verstappen’s love for racing runs. The Dutch champion lives and breathes the sport, spending every spare minute on Red Bull’s simulators and even taking a GT3 test on the Nordschleife ahead of his Nürburgring debut.

Why it matters:

Verstappen’s intimate knowledge speeds car development and helps Red Bull stay ahead of rivals. His simulator data informs aerodynamic and power‑unit upgrades, translating directly into on‑track performance. A driver who can bridge raw data and feel gives the team a strategic advantage, especially under the upcoming regulation cycles.

The details:

• Mekies, who took over as Red Bull CEO last season, said the most surprising thing was Verstappen’s “deep connection” to every facet of the sport, not just driving.
• The driver reportedly logs hours each day on Red Bull’s state‑of‑the‑art simulators, often running more laps than a full test session.
• This week he headed to Germany’s Nordschleife for a private GT3 run with his own team, using the experience to sharpen his car‑control skills ahead of the 24‑Hours of Nürburgring.
• Verstappen has a personal “to‑do list” for the endurance race, including mastering night‑time braking zones and refining tyre‑management strategies.

What's next:

Red Bull will likely feed Verstappen’s simulator feedback into the development of the 2025 and 2026 cars, accelerating the rollout of new aero concepts. The Nürburgring stint could serve as a testing ground for future Red Bull GT‑related projects, hinting at a broader multi‑discipline approach. As the season winds down, Mekies expects Verstappen’s obsessive work ethic to keep the championship battle tight, with any slip‑up potentially tipping the scales.