Laurent Mekies acknowledges that Red Bull still risks struggling at Spa-Francorchamps, but the team principal refuses to give up despite the difficulties encountered with the RB22.
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The 2026 F1 season is not going as hoped for Red Bull. After several years of dominance, the Milton Keynes team is struggling to find true consistency with its new car, the RB22.
Aside from some strong performances by Max Verstappen, notably podiums achieved in Montreal and at the Red Bull Ring, the record remains disappointing. The six-time world constructors’ champion team has yet to fully exploit its potential.
The difficulties do not come solely from the chassis. Despite a home-built thermal engine that was considered a benchmark by the FIA under the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) program, Red Bull still faces problems in energy management.
On fast circuits, these limits become particularly visible. The RB22 chassis also seems less competitive than those of Mercedes and Ferrari in high-speed sections.
Spa, a new real-world test
After Silverstone, Red Bull is heading to another circuit where energy efficiency will be crucial: Spa-Francorchamps.
Laurent Mekies believes that the characteristics of the Belgian track could once again highlight the current weaknesses of his team.
“It is a good representation of the complexity of the situation we find ourselves in with these cars.”
The Red Bull director reminds that performances can vary greatly from one circuit to another.
“In Austria, we were fighting for victory, then just a few days later, at Silverstone, we faced significant limitations that prevented us from fully exploiting our potential.”
According to him, circuits where energy management is a major factor exacerbate the problems faced by Red Bull.
“On tracks where energy constraints are strong, we seem to suffer more compared to the competition. And unfortunately, Spa-Francorchamps probably falls into this category.”
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Mekies remains confident despite the obstacles
Despite this discouraging observation, Laurent Mekies refuses to consider the season compromised.
The Frenchman emphasizes his team’s learning ability and assures that Red Bull will continue to seek solutions.
“This does not mean that we give up or turn the page. It means that we must accumulate knowledge to progress. We need to improve in all areas, that is what we try to do every day.”
For him, the Belgian weekend must serve as a new step in the team’s development.
“We will have to use this weekend to make a small leap on this type of circuit, and I trust the team which learns very quickly.”
Red Bull still believes in the potential of its engine project
This season also represents a historic milestone for Red Bull, which is using its own power unit developed with Red Bull Ford Powertrains for the first time.
Mekies acknowledges that some problems may be related to hardware limitations, but he remains convinced that the team has the necessary resources to progress.
“There may be hardware limitations, but I also know that this team is extraordinary when it comes to learning quickly.”
The goal will therefore be to limit the damage at Spa-Francorchamps before facing a track with different characteristics the following week in Hungary.
“You are right to say that Spa should be quite similar to Silverstone in terms of characteristics. Then, Budapest should offer a different scenario.”
Red Bull therefore knows that the challenge will be significant in the Ardennes, but Laurent Mekies wants to believe that every difficulty encountered will bring his team closer to a sustainable solution.