Mekies: Red Bull's Podium in Canada Just the Beginning of Bolder Strategies

Red Bull’s Team Principal, Laurent Mekies, is in an optimistic mood following the Canadian Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen secured a podium finish. Mekies attributes this success to the team's willingness to embrace risk, a strategy he suggests will continue as the season unfolds.

The race saw Verstappen finish third, marking Red Bull's best result so far this season. Despite trailing Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in the final laps, and teammate Isack Hadjar finishing a lap down in P5, the team sees this as a sign of progress. Mekies highlighted that while the result papers over some reliability issues, it confirms the improvements first seen in Miami are here to stay.

"On the whole, we’ve confirmed the strides made in Miami," Mekies explained post-race. "In qualifying, we were three-tenths off, but our race pace showed we’ve closed some of the gap to the leaders. While track layout may have played a part, we’ve clearly improved."

Verstappen’s fortunes turned after a challenging Sprint race, where he only managed seventh. The team’s setup adjustments paid off, allowing him to climb from P6 to P2 during the Grand Prix, aided by McLaren's ill-fated intermediate tyre strategy and George Russell’s retirement.

Mekies noted, "It was more complex than Miami. When Max or Isack aren’t able to push, we take risks. That’s been our approach for years and it paid off this weekend. This is just the start with these cars, and we’re learning with every race."

While Verstappen ended on a high note, Hadjar faced penalties that compromised his race. He received a 10-second penalty for a late defensive move and a stop-go penalty for not slowing under yellow flags. Despite this, Mekies remains positive about the lessons learned.

"Getting drivers comfortable with the car is challenging," he said. "Max was unhappy on Saturday, and Isack, despite a strong race, felt more was possible. This pushes us to keep taking risks and exploring, even if it’s painful. Our drivers’ feedback is vital for understanding how to unlock more potential."

As Red Bull looks to build on their performance, they’re clearly ready to continue pushing boundaries, taking calculated risks to bridge the gap to the front-runners. With more races ahead, Mekies' strategy of risk-taking could be the key to reigniting Red Bull's competitive edge.