Laurent Mekies says irrespective of the overall results, he is happy how Visa Cash App RB performed in their first year of their new start under the new project.
The last few seasons has seen a transition of the Red Bull junior team from being just a junior outfit to becoming more of a sister F1 outfit. The chances of them toppling the senior team are less, but the shareholders want Visa Cash App RB to at least lead the midfield pack.
The two teams are trying to closely align itself and share parts as much as possible, with the sister team taking as much from the senior outfit. At the same time, the commercial side is vastly different. Both have their own set of partners apart from the power unit that they share.
The team underwent an overhaul of personnel too after the departure of Franz Tost, with Mekies taking command alongside Peter Bayer. They got new sponsors too. The results started to come but once they brought in updates, it didn’t work as per their expectations.
The results dropped and they were overtaken by Haas and Alpine in the end. Irrespective of the results, Mekies sees the positive side of the new journey they started and hopes they can build on it. “In a competitive sport, it’s very difficult not to consider the classifications,” he said.
“But you’re right, there were much bigger pictures for us in 2024. It was year one of this new project. We have tried to build these stronger foundations for the future. And in the middle of that, we were involved in that fantastic battle for the top of the midfield. So we tried to separate both elements.
“We have made, a fairly large change in the company to try to future proof it, to try be able to be credible in the future, fighting for the top of the midfield. As we were doing that, we also had to race every two weeks and get into this year’s fight.
“So I think there are, again, a lot of positives from this year, from the way the team has grown, from the way the team has taken that battle, from the changes that we have been making for the years to come. And hopefully the end result will also give us a sign that we are going into the right direction,” summed up Mekies.
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on his radio antics
Here’s Isack Hadjar securing Visa Cash App RB seat
Here’s Liam Lawson, Christian Horner on the choices
Here’s news on Liam Lawson joining Red Bull
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on his Red Bull test
Here’s link to a F1 Discord channel, join in to interact
