Laurent Mekies on Verstappen's Bahrain Win: A Milestone for Red Bull

Laurent Mekies has taken a moment to bask in the glow of Max Verstappen's triumph at the Bahrain Grand Prix. This victory was particularly sweet for Red Bull as it marked the first win for their collaboration with Ford Powertrains, a significant milestone in Red Bull's history.

At the start of the season, Red Bull found themselves trailing behind Mercedes, but a series of timely upgrades have seen them claw back the deficit. This hard work culminated in a return to the top step of the podium, something the team had been eagerly anticipating.

Verstappen's performance in Malaysia was nothing short of stellar. After a narrow miss in Azerbaijan, where he lost by just 0.196 seconds, Verstappen claimed pole position in Malaysia. Despite some early challenges from Mercedes, he managed to fight back and secure victory over Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.

The victory was doubly significant as it was Red Bull's first since taking on the role of power unit manufacturer, following Honda's exit from the project. Mekies described the win as "a milestone moment in the history of this team," emphasizing the effort from everyone involved at both Milton Keynes and the track.

"This is a great way to end a successful weekend," Mekies noted. "Max converted his performance into an outstanding P1, managing the race conditions brilliantly and showcasing the pace we know he's capable of."

The results in Bahrain underline the progress Red Bull has made over recent months. They had come close on several occasions, but this time, the team's tireless work paid off.

Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar's race was a mix of highs and lows. Starting from eighth, Hadjar had worked his way into podium contention, only to be thwarted by a battery issue, relegating him to fifth place.

Mekies acknowledged the mixed emotions: "Isack showed strong pace all weekend. We were close to a double podium, but sometimes things just don’t go your way."

Looking ahead, Mekies is optimistic, "We will analyze what happened with Isack's car, but everyone should enjoy this victory and the important milestone it represents for Red Bull."

Overall, Red Bull's triumph in Bahrain is a testament to their resilience and determination. The team now turns its focus to the upcoming race in Singapore, buoyed by their recent success and eager for more.