During the Grand Prix of Mexico weekend, Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies explained the team’s approach with their current car, the RB21. Red Bull has decided to implement upgrades in the remaining races. Despite the regulation changes for 2026, the team will continue to actively develop the 2025 car.
Mekies emphasized that this decision is independent of the major regulation changes next year. “It has nothing to do with 2026,” said the Frenchman. “If we were to end the season without getting the maximum out of this car, we would enter 2026 with many question marks. That’s why we decided to invest extra in this car, address improvements and gain some extra speed.” Red Bull Senior Advisor Helmut Marko previously refuted the statements of McLaren team boss Andrea Stella, who claimed that Red Bull would be at a disadvantage next year due to too much focus on this season.
According to Mekies, the decision is unrelated to the current championship fight. The planned upgrades boost Red Bull’s confidence towards next season. “It gives us much more confidence in our tools, methods, and approaches for 2026. Yes, there is less time and energy left for the new project, but that is a conscious trade-off. It has nothing to do with performance.”
A Calculated Choice
Mekies emphasizes that Red Bull consciously balances between current and future development. “We do this because we think it yields a net gain for us. We verify our methods and can then apply them to 2026. We wouldn’t do it if it put us in trouble. Yes, there is a price to pay, but we believe it is reasonable and worth it.”
