Laurent Mekies has chosen a calm and strategic approach in deciding who will partner Max Verstappen from next season onward. As is now well known, Red Bull’s selection process for the second seat has been ongoing for several race weekends, with three main contenders fighting for their opportunity.
Until a few Grands Prix ago, Isack Hadjar appeared to be the leading candidate to join the team from Milton Keynes, while Yuki Tsunoda seemed destined to lose his place following Honda’s exit. Liam Lawson, meanwhile, had fallen behind his teammate, who even managed to achieve a podium with VCARB in Zandvoort.
However, in the last few races, all three drivers have delivered positive performances. In particular, Yuki Tsunoda seems to have found renewed confidence, helped by recent Red Bull upgrades aimed at boosting Verstappen’s title campaign. The gap between them remains large, but that’s hardly surprising — after all, Max Verstappen is not an easy teammate to measure up against.
Red Bull: Laurent Mekies preaches patience
A sixth place in Baku and a seventh place in Austin have restored the Japanese driver’s confidence and pleased the Red Bull team principal. Laurent Mekies, who previously worked with Tsunoda during his time at VCARB, knows his potential well and has long appreciated his growth as a driver.
It seems that while Yuki Tsunoda may not have been highly regarded under Christian Horner’s leadership, things have changed since Laurent Mekies took charge. After the Mexican Grand Prix, the former Ferrari man praised his driver’s recent progress and explained why Red Bull is in no rush to decide on Verstappen’s next teammate.
“In qualifying, I think he finished just two-tenths behind Max. During the race, his first stint was very strong, only two or three-tenths off Max’s pace. Unfortunately, we kept him out a bit too long because it would have benefited us strategically, but a slightly slow pit stop ruined Yuki’s race. Without that, he would probably have finished in the points, which he fully deserved,” Mekies said.
He added, “This is one of the reasons we want to wait before making a decision. Yuki is making progress, and the other young drivers are improving too, so there’s no need to rush. Even if others would like us to decide soon, we prefer to give these guys every possible chance to prove who is truly the best among them.”
Red Bull faces multiple scenarios
Laurent Mekies appears to have embraced the right philosophy when managing a satellite team that develops young talent. Hadjar, Tsunoda, and Lawson will have the opportunity to finish the season by giving their best and proving they deserve that highly coveted Red Bull seat.
The team from Milton Keynes now faces a crucial decision: maintain continuity with the Verstappen–Tsunoda pairing and reward the Japanese driver’s steady improvement, take another chance on Liam Lawson, or promote the promising Isack Hadjar to the senior team — a bold move that could also prove risky if the young driver struggles to adapt.
Ultimately, everyone knows that Red Bull remains, and will likely continue to be, Max Verstappen’s territory. That’s why Laurent Mekies seems determined to protect his young drivers from premature promotion, focusing instead on building solid foundations and giving them time to mature. It’s a patient, long-term strategy — quite different from Red Bull’s fast-track philosophy in recent years — but one that could pay off in the long run.
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