Despite recent back-to-back Formula 1 victories for Max Verstappen and a career-best result for Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies is maintaining a cautious outlook on the team’s resurgence. While Verstappen’s commanding wins in Monza and Baku have narrowed the points gap to McLaren, Mekies warns against declaring a turnaround, emphasizing a race-by-race strategic approach.
According to Jadeh Makhsoos news agency, Mekies acknowledged positive signs, stating, “I think we probably feel today that some of the good stuff we have seen in Monza, we found here again.” He noted that the car performed well in Baku’s low-speed corners, a different challenge from Monza, which is a positive indicator. However, he remains analytical about the car’s overall performance.
The primary concern is the RB21’s known weaknesses, which have not been fully resolved. The team is still vulnerable on high-downforce tracks and in high temperatures. This makes the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, a circuit that has historically challenged Red Bull, a critical test for the team’s current form. Mekies recalled their significant performance gap to McLaren at Zandvoort and Spa, highlighting that the competition remains formidable.
With major development for the 2025 car limited as teams prepare for the 2026 regulations, Red Bull is shifting its focus from large-scale upgrades to operational excellence. The team is placing a greater emphasis on extracting performance through setup changes based on driver feedback and extensive simulator work, as demonstrated by Tsunoda’s efforts after a difficult race in Monza.
According to Jadeh Makhsoos, Mekies explained that there is no single solution. “We do not think, in the team, that there is a silver bullet with a single aspect,” he stated. “We think there is a combination of a lot of small details that have extracted more performance out of the car.” The team’s core objective is to better understand the complex RB21, viewing improved results as a byproduct of that process rather than the sole focus.
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