F1 | Mekies and the impossible mission: giving Red Bull a second competitive driver
Red Bull Racing has long appeared to develop its Formula 1 cars primarily around the driving style and preferences of reigning world champion Max Verstappen. This approach, while maximising the Dutch driver’s performance, often makes it challenging for any teammate to adapt to the car’s delicate and highly specific balance. As a result, the team’s second driver frequently struggles to match Verstappen’s results, whereas drivers competing for the satellite outfit Racing Bulls often manage to showcase their skills more effectively with machinery that is less rigidly tailored to a single driver’s needs.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Laurent Mekies, the recently appointed Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, made it clear that one of his top priorities is to address this recurring weakness and ensure that the team can count on strong contributions from both seats.
Laurent Mekies explained that the current focus is on helping Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda perform at his highest level. He stated that the organisation’s priority is to provide Tsunoda with every tool, resource, and level of support required to allow his natural talent to shine through. Regarding the second driver position, Laurent Mekies stressed that this is precisely where the team’s efforts are being concentrated.
According to Laurent Mekies, Red Bull has already trialled a variety of different technical and strategic solutions over the past several races to improve the situation. The next step, he said, is for both the team and the driver to work together to take another significant leap forward in performance. Mekies expressed his belief that there is no reason why Yuki Tsunoda cannot return to the competitive form he has displayed in previous seasons, reaffirming that this is the immediate target the team is determined to achieve.
Leave a Reply