Sándor Mészáros – AutoSport ES Formula: Max, your long-time chief mechanic, Lee Stevenson, has left the team. Chief mechanics are unsung heroes. So can you please elaborate a bit on the importance of a good working relationship with the chief mechanic?
MAX: Yeah, I mean I have a very good relationship with Leroy already from my start at Red Bull from 2016 onwards. And he was my number one, I think, until the end of 2020, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, it's been a while. We've had a few good years.And then he moved into a bit of a different role where I think initially was a bit more based at the factory. Then he came back to the track and a bit more like sharing duties as a chief mechanic.And then he got a great opportunity at Sauber, and I don't blame him for trying something new. Yeah, I mean, we're still good friends. We have shared a lot of great moments together.And yeah, sometimes in life, you get opportunities and you maybe go a bit out of your comfort zone. You try something new. If it doesn't work out, you can always come back, right? So, so good.
Although the headlines place only Lee as Max's chief mechanic (to imply that he has something to do with his departure from RBR), he has been the team's chief mechanic in both garages since 2021.
Now the chief mechanic is Chris Gent, who was previously Max's #1 mechanic