Good news for Verstappen: Red Bull identifies area where it can extract more performance
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Laurent Mekies highlighted a key area where he believes Red Bull Racing can extract more performance during the second half of the season.
After Lando Norris' victory at the Hungaroring, Red Bull Racing remains the only frontrunner team yet to win a race in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Max Verstappen came close during the Austrian Grand Prix, but he eventually finished second behind George Russell. The Dutchman also finished second at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but crossed the finish line more than 15 seconds behind the British McLaren driver.
Over the previous weekend, the Dutchman mentioned that the RB22 has 'car degradation'. Speaking to GPblog, among others, team principal Mekies addressed Verstappen's words. "At first I'm not really convinced that it is linked to a package or something else. I think we have been struggling to give the drivers a car they could have a good balance with.
"Nonetheless, because it's Max, because it's Isack [Hadjar], they have very often managed to extract anyway the performance," the Frenchman praised his drivers.
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According to Mekies, Red Bull was able to perform better when the team managed to find the right balance. "On the tracks where we have managed to do that, we have seen an improved performance. It's about consistency of the delivery of the performance, and it's been a topic for us this season, and it's probably where some of the potential improvement is in the second part of the year."
Photo: Race Pictures
More performance to be found in qualifying for Red Bull Racing
Mekies also highlighted that Red Bull can extract more performance from the RB22 by making the car less sensitive to small factors.
He continued: "I think our car has been very sensitive to a number of small factors since the first race, and we have suffered a lot in the first part of the season as well.
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"It's enough that you pick up a bit of damage, let it be on gravel, on the kerbs, you get different wind direction and everything is a little bit on the edge in terms of performance. And not only do you probably pay a price [in terms of] lap time, but also it's fair to say that it removes confidence, the driver, so it's what it is.
"So it's not a new topic, but it's something where probably we have more potential to extract," the Frenchman concluded.
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