Mekies reacts to Wolff's 'It's an Everest to climb' statements

07:59, 06 Sep

byNorberto Mujica

Red Bull Racing are currently working hard to premiere the results of their first efforts as a power unit manufacturer in Formula 1, in conjunction with Ford. Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff believes it's a Mount Everest-like climb for the Austrian outift, and the team's principal, Laurent Mekies has since reacted to the German team's boss claims.

Red Bull Powertrains and Ford are developing the power units that will power the four cars of the two F1 teams that are under the umbrella of Red Bull, a task Wolff believes it's 'an Everest to climb.'

How does Mekies feel about Wolff's 'Everest to climb' statements?

In statements to GPblog, Mekies reacted to the comments made by his Mercedes counterpart.

"I think Toto is right by saying it’s an Everest to climb. That’s what it is," the Frenchman began.

"It’s as crazy as it gets to take the decision to do your own power unit, as Red Bull has done. It's an unbelievable challenge to be associated with. It’s the sort of crazy stuff Red Bull does – so it’s a good feeling."

Red Bull avoid 'silly' hubris in the face of the task at hand

Mekies then explained the humility Red Bull are apporaching the mammoth task at hand, byt assuring no one in the team has any ilusions of being on par with the likes of Ferrari or Mercedes straight out of the gat, signalling a potential on-the-backfoot start for the Austrian team.

"But we don’t underestimate how crazy it is. These guys [Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda] have been doing it for 90 years or something like that.

"So it would be silly from our side to think we're going to come here and, right from the start, be at Ferrari’s or Mercedes’ level. That would be silly."

Max Verstappen at the Monza circuit.

Nevertheless, the project is being undertaken with the utmost committment, or as the Frenchman dubs it, 'the Red Bull way.'

"But it’s being set up the Red Bull way – at the maximum possible level. We take it step by step."

"We are trying to ramp up as quickly as possible – both the PU and the structure that goes around the PU: the people, the infrastructure.

"Then, as I said, we expect a year with a lot of hard work, a lot of sleepless nights next year to try to get to the right level."

'Mekies relishes the challenge ahead'

However, speaking with the words of the true racer at heart, Mekies has proven to be, he outlined a delight in the face of the challenge that lies ahead, even if at the moment there are no reliable estimations in terms of what the pecking order will be next year, or where Red Bull will find themselves in.

"But it’s a challenge that very much feels like a Red Bull challenge, and we love that.

"We’re not going to put a number on where we think we’ll be – because I don’t think anybody has a number – but we know we’re starting with a mountain to climb, as Toto said."