Laurent Mekies praised Red Bull’s strategic choices at the Hungarian Grand Prix, believing they largely contributed to Max Verstappen’s second place.
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Max Verstappen’s second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix exceeded Red Bull’s expectations.
Before the start, the Austrian team’s simulations suggested that Lando Norris and the two Ferraris would be out of reach, while Verstappen, fourth on the grid after penalties given to Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, was mainly expected to fight with the Mercedes cars.
Laurent Mekies readily admits that the internal forecasts proved too pessimistic.
“Before the race, we thought Lando and the two Ferraris would be untouchable. We expected to be able to fight with some Mercedes and probably with Oscar Piastri. In the end, we were able to fight with the two Ferraris, while Lando was indeed out of reach.”
“Bold” strategic choices
The Red Bull director believes the difference was made at the pit wall.
The team made several counterintuitive strategic decisions, notably around the virtual safety car caused by Oscar Piastri’s retirement, but also earlier in the race by refusing to react immediately to Lewis Hamilton’s early stop.
For Mekies, these risk-taking moves maximized the result.
“Today, the strategists made several very bold decisions, especially during the virtual safety car, but also earlier when we chose not to cover Lewis’s early stop.”
The Frenchman did not spare praise for those in charge of strategy.
“As often, they made the right decisions. Huge congratulations to the pit wall, as well as to the strategy and tire teams who stayed at the factory.”
A team in full renewal
Beyond just strategy, Mekies believes Red Bull is gradually regaining the level of excellence that made its reputation.
After a season start marked by several difficulties, the Milton Keynes team shows, according to him, clear progress in several areas.
“Overall, our race execution was very solid this weekend.”
He notably cites starts, long problematic at the beginning of the season, but also pit stops and strategic management.
“We suffered during the first races with our starts. Now, we make good launches, very efficient pit stops and, as always, a very high-level strategy.”
A regained momentum
Thanks to this new second place for Verstappen, the third podium appearance in the last four Grands Prix, Red Bull confirms its return to form after a complicated start to the season.
For Laurent Mekies, this progress is not only due to the performance of the RB22 but also to the quality of the collective work done by the whole team.
“I am very satisfied with how the team has been functioning in these last races. We are gradually regaining the level of excellence that has always made Red Bull’s reputation.”
Even though McLaren remains the benchmark at the moment, the Red Bull boss believes his team has regained an almost flawless execution, an element that allows them to compensate, at least in part, for the performance deficit of their car.
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