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Max Verstappen left Red Bull speechless with his Dutch GP performance

Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has revealed his Formula 1 squad still gets left “amazed” by the capabilities of its world champion driver Max Verstappen after the Dutch Grand Prix.

Verstappen has raced for Red Bull since 2016 and during that time, he has clinched the last four world titles and broken countless records. 

Although he isn’t in contention for this year’s championship due to McLaren's superiority, Verstappen has been the Woking outfit’s nearest challenger, which was seen at Zandvoort on Sunday.

The Dutchman started third behind a McLaren 1-2, but enjoyed a brilliant getaway and overtook Lando Norris for second with a daring move around the outside of Turn 2.

Norris eventually reclaimed second, but the Briton's late retirement due to a mechanical issue meant Verstappen finished as runner-up to McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen's early overtake added to many moments in 2025 that left Red Bull in awe, such as his sprint win at Spa-Francorchamps, which included jumping Piastri on lap one. 

“I tell you what, on the pit wall lap one, as much as we work with him every day, we were still amazed by what he managed to put up,” said Mekies, who replaced Christian Horner as Red Bull boss in July.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images)

“So that's how it was. It was like, ‘how did he do that? And how did he make the move? And how did he keep it on track?’.

“It's a bit like in Spa when he got the McLaren on the sprint start. He knew he had one shot. He knew it was now. And he gave it all. And he still leaves us with no words when you see that. So, big well done.”

That happened at Verstappen’s home grand prix, an event he has won three times and is known for one of the best atmospheres on the F1 calendar.

Verstappen is adored by his home fans, who deck the grandstands in Dutch orange and although some might find that daunting, the Red Bull driver takes it all in his stride.

“Looking at Max, and the way he manages his own race, with all the attention, with all the pressure he has here, you can still see he's very, very calm,” added Mekies.

“He has a very well-structured way to approach the weekend. From that perspective, it was not more hectic, neither, I hope, for him, nor for the team. We just got good energy from the fans.”

Photos from Dutch GP - Race

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isabella Bernardini, girlfriend of Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Yassine Hadjar with Randa Hadjar

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Alex Albon, Williams

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Adam Norris, Jos Verstappen

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Adam Norris, Guenther Steiner

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Adam Norris, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Jos Verstappen

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Alicia Stent-Torriani

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Adam Norris, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula One Group

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

The race starts

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari crash

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, Zak Brown, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Laura Bowden, Chief Financial Officer at McLaren lifts the Constructors trophy on the podium

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, Peter Bayer, RB F1 Team, Alan Permane, RB F1 Team

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Dutch GP - Sunday, in photos

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