Mekies explains if Red Bull are paying price for late 2025 push

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has admitted that the team is paying the price for their intense development push during the 2025 season. In an effort to support Max Verstappen’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive championship, the team chose to aggressively upgrade their car rather than pivot early to the 2026 technical regulations. Mekies highlighted that despite ultimately missing the title by just two points against Lando Norris, the team's fighting spirit made this the only acceptable path, even with the knowledge that it would impact their 2026 preparation. Currently, Red Bull faces a challenging start to the 2026 season, struggling with pace and reliability while integrating their new internal power unit project with Ford. Despite these setbacks and a current sixth-place standing in the Constructors' Championship, Mekies remains resolute, emphasizing that the team is not treating this as a 'transition year.' He insists that everyone at the Milton Keynes factory is in 'full attack mode,' fueled by a desire to rapidly regain competitiveness and overcome their current performance limitations.