Red Bull Team Principal and CEO Laurent Mekies has conceded it has a “difficult” road ahead as it prepares to catch up to Formula 1‘s dominant force; Mercedes.
Two rounds into the 2026 campaign and Mercedes seems to be head and shoulders ahead of its competition, as the Silver Arrows sit atop the Constructors’ standings after securing consecutive one-twos in Melbourne and Shanghai.
Red Bull on the other hand have a lot to mull over as F1 moves on to the Japanese GP, next weekend, Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar having had it tough with the RB22.
Despite looking like the third-fastest package alongside McLaren, at Melbourne, the Shanghai International Circuit was a different story altogether for Red Bull.
Verstappen was forced to retire from the 56-lap race with engine troubles but was troubled by the likes of Haas and Alpine before he pulled over. Hadjar’s race was no different; with the French-Algerian driver finishing eighth at the chequered flag albeit a whopping 87 seconds off the lead.
Mekies isn’t out rightly “worried” by this lack of pace, however, as he expected the team to be having teething troubles with its all-new power unit and the Silver Arrows to have a very strong W17.
“I’m not sure if worried is the right word. It’s large, no question. It didn’t really come as a surprise,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“Somehow, we were expecting them to be very, very strong as the pre-season test built up, even though it was not immediately visible at the test. So, not a surprise that it’s large.”
Red Bull ready for “difficult” fight against Mercedes
F1’s latest era is going to be a developmental battle, at least in its early days, Mekies not consigning himself to the pecking order as it stands.
The team has done well to get its very first F1 power unit on track, and despite the large gap to the very front of the grid, the former Ferrari man is sure his team is ready to get into the mix as soon as possible.
“On the other hand, we expect the season to be very long,” Mekies explained. “We expect the development rate to be much higher than what we have seen in the past.
“Of course, it’s always going to be difficult to get a second back, because obviously they will improve as well, but nobody is giving up here, and yeah, that is the fight we are in.”
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