Mekis: It would have been better if Max hadn't known that I wanted to stop him!

      Today Laurent Mekies runs Red Bull Racing, and in 2015 he worked at the FIA dealing with safety issues.

      That same year Max Verstappen got a seat at Toro Rosso, becoming at 17 the youngest driver in Formula 1 history. On the Talking Bulls podcast Mekies recalled how he created the current superlicence system that prevents drivers under 18 from competing in Formula 1.

      Laurent Mekies: "I joined the FIA just at the time when Max received his superlicence at 17.

      The first thing FIA president Jean Todt asked me to do was introduce age restrictions. He said, 'This youngster, Max, received a licence at 17. People won't understand why you can't have a driving licence at 18, but you can race in Formula 1. Think with your team about a new structure for obtaining superlicences — this must not happen again.'

      Thanks to Max's outstanding abilities, we now have the existing superlicence points system, including a minimum age. Although it would have been better if he hadn't known I wanted to stop him!"