Laurent Mekies believes Red Bull can remain competitive across the remaining races of the 2026 Formula 1 season after Max Verstappen secured consecutive victories, but the team principal has warned that nothing can be taken for granted. Red Bull has now completed its upgrade programme for the current car and is shifting its development focus towards 2027.
Verstappen has looked increasingly like his dominant best across the last three Grands Prix. After taking his first victory of the season in Malaysia, the four-time world champion dominated in Singapore to claim his first career win at Marina Bay and deliver a second consecutive success for Red Bull.
Laurent Mekies sees signs Red Bull can stay competitive
The improvement has given Mekies greater confidence heading into the final phase of the season, particularly because Red Bull has shown strong pace across circuits with very different characteristics.
“I think it is a fact that in the last three races we had the pace to win, and we actually took two victories,” Laurent Mekies told the media. “For the first time this season we had the best pace, and these are three quite different tracks, so it is reasonable to think the car can also be competitive elsewhere, but it is never guaranteed.”
Mekies pointed to the changing competitive order throughout the season as evidence of how quickly Formula 1 performance can fluctuate.
“We have seen it this year with McLaren taking two consecutive victories and then struggling afterwards. Mercedes dominated, and now it is struggling. Extracting the maximum potential is a fight every race weekend. If we manage to do that, we can fight for victory.”
Red Bull confirms no more 2026 upgrades
Despite the clear improvement in Red Bull’s competitiveness, Mekies moved quickly to temper expectations. The team has finished introducing upgrades to its 2026 car, meaning rivals could potentially change the balance of power if they continue bringing new parts.
“We have completed our upgrade programme for this year. The competitive order could change very quickly if some of our rivals bring further upgrades. Our development programme will not change.”
Red Bull’s attention is now increasingly turning towards the 2027 car, although Mekies believes the remaining 2026 races can still provide valuable information.
“We have to focus on 2027, and we think there is still a lot we can learn in 2026 that can be useful for next year.”
The remaining rounds take Formula 1 through several very different circuits, including Austin, Mexico City, Interlagos and Las Vegas before the scheduled season-ending events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The complete 2026 Formula 1 calendar highlights the varied challenges Red Bull will face as it tests whether its recent improvement can translate across different layouts.
Max Verstappen feedback crucial to Red Bull development
Mekies also praised Verstappen’s contribution to the technical development of both the chassis and power unit, highlighting the Dutchman’s ability to identify precisely what is limiting performance.
“Max’s input is enormous. He has sensational technical sensitivity, probably without equal. He has the ability to identify what is limiting performance.”
“Unfortunately for us, that does not mean we have a solution when he tells us what the problem is, but at least he tells us, and that is an enormous help for the team. It is constructive feedback and a huge boost for the development of the chassis and engine.”
Isack Hadjar endures difficult Singapore weekend
While Verstappen enjoyed another successful weekend, the other side of the Red Bull garage had a far more difficult experience.
Isack Hadjar finished 10th in the race after being forced to start from the back following a mechanical problem in qualifying. Mekies admitted Red Bull had failed to give him a proper opportunity to build competitive running before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“We had a horrible weekend on Isack’s side of the garage,” Mekies said. “We did not give him the opportunity to complete competitive laps before Sunday’s Grand Prix.”
“We suffered a series of different mechanical problems, some involving the power unit and others the gearbox. The mechanics spent the entire weekend changing major components right up until parc fermé.”
Mekies stressed how demanding the workload had been at the end of a triple-header in Singapore’s hot and humid conditions.
“This is a team that has never stopped winning. Last year we missed out on the world championship by two points. The objective is to return to a cycle of success.”
“That is what brings us together: my contribution carries the same weight as that of my 2,000 colleagues. Each of us is responsible for a tiny part of the lap time, regardless of the role we have.”
“Winning is the only thing that drives us. We pursue success with our own brutally honest approach. We will celebrate the back-to-back victories because it is a phenomenal achievement reached in only 15 races, but we are focused only on what separates us from the next one.”
Red Bull therefore heads into the next phase of the season with renewed confidence but without the safety net of further upgrades. Verstappen’s recent performances suggest the car can fight at the front, yet Mekies remains conscious that extracting its full potential every weekend will determine whether the winning run can continue.
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