Red Bull detail 'crucial' scale of Max Verstappen role

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has hailed Max Verstappen's "limitless vision" as a significant element in its on-track success.

Verstappen is entering his 11th season with the Milton Keynes-based squad as he seeks to add a fifth title to his highly impressive racing résumé.

Widely regarded as the most complete driver on the grid, Verstappen found himself working under a new team leader last year when Mekies took over from Christian Horner.

The pair generated a strong start to life together at Red Bull, as together with the rest of the team, they orchestrated a monumental comeback which saw the Dutchman miss out on the title by just two points.

Detailing the scale of Verstappen's importance, Mekies told Autosport: "[It's been] fantastic.

"Max embodies motorsport in every sense, there isn't a single detail he overlooks.

"What he does behind the wheel is clear to everyone, but from the inside you can appreciate his extraordinary technical sensitivity and his complete understanding of this sport, which I imagine comes from having been immersed in it his entire life.

"He has a limitless vision; his role goes far beyond driving."

Red Bull enter the upcoming campaign with its own power unit for the first time and hope to return to championship-winning ways.

Mekies added the 28-year-old's vast experience has played a crucial role in the transition to new regulations.

"He's a true driving force for everyone working on the project and plays a crucial part in the whole system.

"He's involved in every aspect, when we take risks, when we face setbacks, in every decision. In a regulatory shift as radical as this one, he's an enormous added value."