Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has insisted that the team’s approach to race weekends hasn’t changed despite Max Verstappen‘s revitalised Formula 1 title chances.
Many have long considered the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri the far-and-away frontrunners of 2025’s F1 title battle.
However, Verstappen currently sits 63 points behind Piastri and could mount a late challenge if his recent form holds.
There is a small sense of inevitability around the Dutchman, especially considering his performances throughout the 2020s.
Plus, pole for the United States Grand Prix Sprint Race sets him up for a strong weekend.
Alongside Verstappen is Red Bull boss Mekies, leading the team into the season close for the first time since taking over from the ultra-successful Christian Horner.
“I’m going to disappoint you a bit,” Mekies says to those looking for comment on his driver’s title chances.
“You know, the simple truth inside the team, we simply take it race by race.
“I know it sounds like something you would just say in this room, but if you walk into our engineering room now, nobody talks about that, neither before the Grand Prix or after the weekend. We only talk about this race.
“Actually, we only talk about next session. That’s where the intensity goes to. And then, you know, things will come as a result of that.
“So as Zak [Brown] said, you know, you don’t change your approach to racing because of where you stand in the championships or because of where your chances stand. You go out there.
“It’s difficult enough to feel on Sunday night that you have nailed everything out of your car for that weekend. And that’s where everyone’s energy is focused on.”
Red Bull ‘focused’ on the small margins in Austin
The 2025 F1 season has seen some of the tightest margins in recent years, especially as the season has progressed.
Rather than putting a number on Verstappen’s title hopes, Mekies is hoping to be the best-placed team throughout the weekend.
“No, I won’t put a number on it, but I don’t think it changed anything to the way we are going racing. You know, we love pure racing,” he added.
“We go to a race weekend like here in Austin and there is probably four teams that can win the race on Sunday.
“And it’s going to be down to the last half a tenth, a tenth between making pole or being third row and only scoring very little points.
“So we are focused on that. And the percentage really doesn’t change much for us.”
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