Red Bull's new leader openly expresses plans for alterations in the RB21 model
Red Bull Racing, once a formidable force in Formula One, is currently grappling with significant challenges, as the team prepares for the fast-approaching 2026 season. The new team principal and CEO, Laurent Mekies, has taken over from Christian Horner, tasked with revitalizing Red Bull Racing's fortunes.
The team's current car, the RB21, has been struggling to compete with the likes of McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. This decline first became apparent in 2024. In an attempt to address these issues, Red Bull introduced a comprehensive suite of upgrades for the race at Spa-Francorchamps, including revisions to the front wing, sidepod inlet, engine cover, suspension, and rear corners.
During the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Mekies and his team performed admirably, with every Red Bull affiliated driver starting within the top 10. Max Verstappen, Red Bull's driver, managed to win the Sprint race despite struggling with the RB21.
However, Mekies admits that the upgrades brought performance to the car, but did not fix all the balance limitations. He acknowledges that there is no quick fix for the RB21’s balance and handling issues and continued development efforts will extend throughout the season.
The key issues Mekies is addressing include the RB21’s development plateau, operational weaknesses, internal power struggles and culture problems, and problems with the second driver role. Comparatively, McLaren has demonstrated notable progress in 2024 and 2025, overtaking Red Bull in development advancements and Constructor championship standings.
Despite the challenges, Verstappen remains committed to extracting lessons from the 2025 season, which effectively ended early, as Red Bull's championship hopes dissipated. The priority for Mekies is internal stability and long-term competitiveness, with significant hope pinned on the 2026 car development and engine project to restore Red Bull’s dominance.
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[2] Motorsport.com. (2025). Red Bull Racing's new team principal Laurent Mekies faces a huge task. Retrieved from https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-racing-s-new-team-principal-laurent-mekies-faces-a-huge-task/6005856/
[3] Grand Prix News. (2025). Red Bull Racing struggles with second driver role. Retrieved from https://www.grandprixnews.com/news/red-bull-racing-struggles-with-second-driver-role/
[4] Formula1.com. (2025). Red Bull Racing's new team principal Laurent Mekies faces a huge task. Retrieved from https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.red-bull-racing-s-new-team-principal-laurent-mekies-faces-a-huge-task-2636797.html
- Laurent Mekies, the new team principal of Red Bull Racing, has also ventured into the world of tennis, buying a stake in a professional tennis team in 2025, hoping to learn strategies beyond Formula One to improve Red Bull's performance.
- Despite Red Bull Racing's struggles in Formula One, Laurent Mekies has taken up auto-racing as a hobby, participating in local racing events, and even showing promise in the sport, eager to gain insights from a different perspective.
- In an unexpected move, Red Bull Racing has announced its foray into the realm of hockey, sponsoring a Grand-Prix-themed hockey team for the 2026 season, aiming to boost the team's morale and fan engagement beyond the racing circuit.
