{"id":602806,"date":"2026-04-12T21:35:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T21:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/602806\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T21:35:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T21:35:10","slug":"mekies-delivers-blunt-verdict-on-red-bulls-current-f1-performance-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/602806\/","title":{"rendered":"Mekies delivers blunt verdict on Red Bull\u2019s current F1 performance gap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Laurent Mekies<\/a> has highlighted the key areas behind Red Bull Racing<\/a>\u2019s current performance deficit compared to the front-running teams.<\/p>\n

The Red Bull team principal, speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, avoided pinpointing a single weakness in the RB22, instead stressing that the team is focused on overall performance optimisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, we think it\u2019s 360 degrees. We don\u2019t believe there\u2019s one specific area to focus on. In itself, that\u2019s already an incredible achievement. The fact that the power unit isn\u2019t identified as a specific weakness, but rather just one area like every other that needs improvement to reach the level of the benchmark, which is Mercedes today, is already such an incredible achievement,\u201d Mekies explained.<\/p>\n

The 48-year-old, however, emphasised the positive progress the team has made, particularly with its power unit programme and overall growth, while underlining the focus on closing the gap to the front.<\/p>\n

\"mekies-red-bull-verstappen-livery-jpg\"\/<\/p>\n

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that this power unit was not existing three or four years ago, the factory was not existing, we had no people, and now we are 700 people there. We have this incredible partnership with Ford, and we turned up at the first race, and it felt very normal. And the only thing we are looking at is the gap to first place. You know, which is substantial now, but that\u2019s, you know, we are all pointing towards looking at what we need to do to close that gap,\u201d Mekies added.<\/p>\n

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Mekies concluded by noting how the team\u2019s decision to push the chassis development of its 2025 car has had a knock-on effect on its 2026 project, describing it as a challenge the squad is ready to embrace.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s not one area. We have pushed very late on the chassis development last year. We pay a price in the initial phase of the season. The engine project is super new. The guys and the girls have done an unbelievable job. But of course, we accept that competition is at a better level right now, and it\u2019s going to be a learning race, 2026, and it\u2019s going to be a development race. It\u2019s two races that we embrace, and we are diving into.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Red Bull team have endured a challenging start to the current campaign, and it currently lies sixth in the Constructors\u2019 Championship, 119 points off the pace-setting Mercedes team.<\/p>\n

Red Bull urged to overhaul technical structureEarlier, former F1<\/a> driver Ralf Schumacher urged the Red Bull team to consider an overhaul of its technical structure<\/a>. The former Williams driver noted the need for more experienced hands to help close the gap to the front of the grid.<\/p>\n

Schumacher, however, stopped short of urging the team to consider axing current technical director Pierre Wach\u00e9.<\/p>\n

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