– Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies openly admits that the massive performance boost in the late phase of 2025 came at the expense of the start of the new Formula 1 era in 2026. Nevertheless, he makes it clear that the team in Milton Keynes would act the same way again at any time.
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After a difficult start to last year, in which McLaren with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri temporarily pulled away, Red Bull and four-time world champion Max Verstappen launched an impressive comeback after the summer break.
In the end, third place in the constructors’ championship behind McLaren and Mercedes was enough, while Verstappen secured the runner-up title behind champion Norris.
In an interview with Sky, Mekies now explains that the intensive development of the previous year’s car consumed resources that would actually have been needed for the new regulations in 2026. However, they do not regret this path.
“What happened in the second half of 2025 is something we will probably remember for a long time,” said Mekies. “It was an incredible comeback. Thanks go to everyone in Milton Keynes who turned this car around. No one wanted to give up.”
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The Frenchman emphasizes that it was not just about short-term results, but about understanding their own processes: “We pushed very hard for a long time to understand the limitations of last year’s project. That was important for our methods and tools of the future. At Red Bull Racing, you simply don’t give up.”
That the delayed focus on the 2026 project now leaves traces is described by Mekies as “unavoidable.” When asked if this explains all current difficulties, however, he finds clear words:
“No, that would be an excuse, and no one here is looking for excuses. It is a combination of various things. But if you walk around the campus, you find the same fire as last year. People know they have to solve complex problems to make the car competitive again. There is no greater motivation than the thought: ‘Let’s do it again’.”
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