Laurent Mekies, director of Red Bull Racing, has acknowledged that the increase in the team’s performance at the end of 2025 had negative repercussions at the start of the 2026 season. Despite these difficulties, Mekies states that the decision made was appropriate and he does not regret adopting it.
After a difficult start in 2025, where McLaren surpassed Red Bull in the constructors’ and drivers’ standings, the Milton Keynes team, with four-time world champion driver Max Verstappen, experienced a remarkable comeback after the summer break. This allowed them to finish the season in third place in the constructors’ championship, just behind McLaren and Mercedes, with Verstappen second in the drivers’ championship.
In a recent interview, Mekies noted that although focusing on improving the 2025 car came at a cost at the start of 2026, the team would not hesitate to repeat the strategy. “What happened in the second half of last year is a memory that will stay with us for a long time. It was an incredible comeback that deserves recognition from the entire team in Milton Keynes, who did not give up in their attempt to improve the car,” Mekies said.
According to the Red Bull director, the decision to continue working on the 2025 car was to ensure a solid future, both in methodologies and tools. Mekies added that this decision, while influencing the start of 2026, will not serve as an excuse for the current difficulties of the team. “We are in a complex phase and the team members are motivated to solve the problems that prevent us from being competitively effective. We are determined to get back to the level that is expected of us,” he concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
