Behind this phrase, the entire problem of the RB22 appears.
The driver speaks of an unstable, unpredictable car, with an obvious lack of aerodynamic load, which forces the team to constantly change direction without really understanding the right development path.
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He also emphasizes that the balance varies greatly from one lap to another, making driving particularly uncomfortable and difficult to sustain over time.
Mekies agrees
This diagnosis is confirmed by
Laurent Mekies, who admits that the difficulties encountered are not simply a matter of settings. From the start of the season in Melbourne, the team had identified a significant gap, estimated at about one second behind
Mercedes and half a second behind
Ferrari.
While this gap initially seemed manageable, the situation gradually became more complicated, particularly in China, where performance dropped further. At the same time,
McLaren closed its gap to reach the front, further accentuating Red Bull’s decline.
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The mysteries of the lack of correlation
Mekies insists that the problem is deeper: it is not about optimizing a set-up, but rather understanding a structural flaw in the car’s behavior. This lack of clear correlation between expectations and reality on track prevents any consistent progress.
Under these conditions, Red Bull finds itself with a car that is both difficult to exploit and intrinsically less performant, a particularly penalizing combination in such a tight championship. If no major technical solution is quickly identified, the team risks remaining behind for the long term, marking a clear break from its recent dominance.
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