AUSTIN: Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told AFP Max Verstappen remains the cornerstone of the team's ambitions, hailing the four-time world champion as the driving force behind their bid to return to winning ways.
"Max is an extraordinary part of the team. He's the central figure, the focal point," Mekies said ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin this weekend.
"He combines incredible qualities: exceptional speed in the car, outstanding technical sensitivity, and he lives day and night for motorsport.
"He's very easy to approach and loves sharing his passion for the sport. He's extremely direct and transparent and appreciates the same in return. We don't agree all the time, but it's extremely pleasant to work with him."
Mekies, who signed a contract extension as Red Bull team boss until 2031 last week, was speaking publicly for the first time since the announcement and described the deal as a strong vote of confidence from the team.
"I'm very grateful for the trust that has been placed in me. It's a confidence that will be passed on to the team as we continue pushing towards the next stage," the Frenchman said.
"Our ambitions are high, with no objective other than opening a new winning cycle."
As in 2025, when Red Bull staged a dramatic late-season revival against McLaren and Verstappen narrowly missed out on the drivers' title by two points to Britain's Lando Norris, the team has rebounded after a difficult start to the current campaign.
Having finished less than a second behind race winner George Russell of Mercedes in Azerbaijan in late September, Verstappen arrives in Austin on the back of consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore.
While Kimi Antonelli could seal the drivers' championship as soon as this weekend, Verstappen will look to maintain his momentum over the closing races and fight for second place in the standings.
"The team has this unique mindset of never giving up in tough times," said Mekies.
"In the second half of the 2025 season, we had that incredible comeback. Our crews have pulled off another incredible comeback this year, even if it's been a bit less spectacular.
"That said, it's still only our first season with our own engine, which we've quickly forgotten. So we still have a huge amount of potential to unlock. We're going to use every kilometre the car covers to learn things for next year, so we can deliver a better start to the season."