Laurent Mekies Praises Red Bull's Progress in Miami GP
Laurent Mekies acknowledges Red Bull's performance improvement at the Miami Grand Prix but admits they're not yet in a position to challenge for wins. Max Verstappen's fifth-place finish highlighted their progress, while Isack Hadjar's race ended in frustration.
Red Bull's Team Principal, Laurent Mekies, reflected on a weekend of progress at the Miami Grand Prix, noting that the team has made 'a definite step forward' with the RB22. Despite the improvements, Mekies acknowledged that the team isn't quite ready to challenge for race victories just yet. Max Verstappen secured his best qualifying position of the season, lining up on the front row, and briefly flirted with leading the race before a spin on the opening lap set him back. This misstep forced Verstappen onto an alternate strategy, which saw him pit early behind the Safety Car. Impressively, he managed his tires over the remaining 51 laps to finish fifth.
"There is a definitive step forward," said Mekies post-race. He pointed out the team's shrinking gap to pole positions, from 1.2 seconds in Japan to just under two-tenths in Miami, as a clear sign of progress. However, assessing Red Bull's exact position remains tricky, as Verstappen's strategy differed, and Isack Hadjar's race ended prematurely due to a crash.
While Red Bull still finds itself some distance from the front-runners, Mekies is optimistic about their trajectory. "Our race pace was strong, confirming the good signs shown in Quali," he noted, suggesting that the team could soon contend for podiums. Red Bull's recent upgrades, coupled with improved understanding of their car, are giving drivers more confidence to push harder in upcoming races.
Isack Hadjar, on the other hand, had a challenging weekend, underscored by a crash that saw him out of the race early. Mekies, however, isn't overly concerned about Hadjar's form, attributing some of his struggles to a straight-line speed deficit that hampered performance. "In terms of driving and rhythm, Hadjar slowly got into the right rhythm," Mekies observed, suggesting that with more consistent weekends, Hadjar's potential will shine through.
Despite the improvements, Red Bull remains in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship with 30 points, trailing McLaren, who have managed 94 points despite three DNFs. Mekies emphasized the ongoing development race, noting that the team is focused on extracting more performance from their package as they continue to chase the competition.
The Miami Grand Prix was a reminder of the intricacies of F1's development battle, as Red Bull looks to build on their recent progress without losing sight of their long-term goals.