In Formula 1 in 2026, a multitude of factors will come into play. Red Bull is approaching the new regulatory cycle with clearly defined technical principles aimed at maximising on-track performance. Among these is the driver’s ability to adapt quickly to a new driving style, something that will be inseparable from the sensitivity required to handle the new cars, while also taking into account straight-line modes and cornering behaviour.
Red Bull’s approach to the new era is built around precise guidelines that prioritise efficiency, adaptability and feedback. The capacity to understand how the car behaves in different phases of the lap will be crucial, especially in a season where the balance between straight-line performance and cornering will be radically reshaped by the regulations.
Red Bull: the right choice that completely changed the fortunes of the Austrian team
Laurent Mekies previously worked at Ferrari as sporting director. It is impossible to know whether that role was the most suitable one for him, but it can be said that it was not carried out in an impeccable manner. Mekies wanted more room, a position in which he believed he could express himself at his best. He discussed this with top management, but when a major opportunity seemed to open up with Mattia Binotto’s departure, John Elkann opted instead for fellow Frenchman Frédéric Vasseur.
We will never know whether that move would have worked. What is certain is that working in Maranello often amplifies difficulties, not least because of the enormous pressure that surrounds the Scuderia. For this reason, after sending out a few CVs here and there, the opportunity Laurent Mekies had been waiting for finally arrived: the chance to run a Formula 1 team. AlphaTauri came calling, an environment he already knew well from earlier in his career.
The Frenchman stood out immediately. He did his job well for a season and a half, until the sudden dismissal of Christian Horner found him in the right place at exactly the right time. The Milton Keynes squad needed a replacement who was ready and familiar with the environment, and Mekies was identified as Horner’s successor. A move that was criticised from the outset and even questioned by our publication, as it was difficult to imagine that he could be the right person for the role.
Mekies and the ability to focus on what really mattered
Six months on, it can now be said that the decision was the right one. Red Bull could probably not have found a better option when it decided to rebuild a team that was losing key pieces. Mekies was never considered the absolute best during his time at Toro Rosso, nor during his spells with the FIA or his experience at Ferrari headquarters in Maranello. However, his approach upon arriving in Milton Keynes has proven to be highly effective.
His basic reasoning may have seemed simple, but it was far from obvious in its execution. He understood that listening to his drivers was more important than anything else, especially the talent from Hasselt. It must be underlined that updates for the RB21 were already in development before his arrival. His real strength lay in changing the team’s working approach during race weekends, placing Red Bull’s DNA at the centre of everything.
An aggressive mindset, combined with the ability to listen to the car during free practice sessions, following the invaluable feedback provided by Max Verstappen, the driver who has been able to exploit the Austrian car in an extraordinary way. There was also a strong desire to understand what was not working, to dig deep and extract lessons that could be used for the following championship, even though everything will change. This philosophy has been a constant from the very first minute of Mekies’ tenure.
F1 2026: the ultimate sensor that only Red Bull possesses
The 2026 world championship shapes up as a huge challenge for everyone. Even more so for a team coming off significant losses and facing the new responsibility of becoming a constructor in its own right. A home-built power unit, for the first time, arriving precisely at a pivotal moment with the start of an unprecedented regulatory cycle. The regulatory transformation will not change the team’s working methodology, however, as the essence and fundamental matrix of the Austrian outfit will remain intact.
This approach was refined and relaxed during the second half of the 2025 season, with an eye firmly on the journey into the unknown represented by the new regulations. All of this while being able to rely on Formula 1’s ultimate transducer: Max Verstappen. A driver capable of reading every single situation on both a technical and practical level, providing the fundamental basis for improvement, whether it concerns advice on car development, pure handling, setup choices or race strategy.
He is the ultimate sensor that no other Formula 1 team possesses. This is precisely the extra weapon that the Austrian team will be able to wield against its direct competitors, in a championship that, as Nikolas Tombazis has explained, will place the driver at the very centre of the project. An enormous level of driving sensitivity will be required to learn as quickly as possible how to make the difference with the new cars.
From a purely technical standpoint, even considering the possibility of running Mercedes power units, often regarded as the benchmark, McLaren can be seen as a favourite based on what it has achieved over the past two seasons. However, when it comes to interpreting the new cars on track, Red Bull, with Max Verstappen, will be the most prepared team of all.
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