Laurent Mekies’ decision has reignited Red Bull’s long-standing problems and shows why Verstappen had such big problems in Brazil.

In the frenetic world of Formula 1, where every decision feels like a chess move in a final game, Red Bull Racing’s new team principal, Laurent Mekies, recently made a choice that has resurrected the team’s old demons. Taking over from Christian Horner in July 2025 following his abrupt resignation, Mekies has decided to continue developing the RB21, even as the season draws to a close and rivals like McLaren have already fully shifted their focus to 2026. This strategy, aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the car’s weaknesses, comes at a price: a delay in preparations for next year’s new regulations. But beyond that, it has exposed Red Bull’s deep-rooted problems – issues that have been simmering for months and culminated in Max Verstappen’s disastrous performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. What began as a noble attempt at insight ended in a wake-up call that seems to relegate the dominance of the past to a distant past.

Let’s take a moment to look back at the context of Mekies’ decision. Red Bull, once the undisputed ruler with four consecutive titles ahead of Verstappen, has been struggling since the start of 2025 with a car that resembles a temperamental diva: brilliant on high-speed circuits like Suzuka, but uncontrollable on tracks with low downforce or demanding tire management, such as Bahrain or Hungary. The RB21 suffers from a narrow performance window – too much adjustment to one characteristic, and the car slips into oversteer or understeer. Aerodynamic instability, tire overheating, and a lack of balance have plagued the team for months. Rivals like McLaren, with their stable MCL39, don’t have this problem; they “kill” in hot conditions and on long tracks, while Red Bull struggles with a chassis that seems to protest every curb and every corner.

Mekies, an engineer with heart – as he is often described – saw an opportunity in these persistent problems. Instead of prematurely switching to the 2026 model like McLaren, he opted to continue pumping resources into the RB21. “We’re paying the price for it, but it’s a net gain,” he said after the Mexican Grand Prix, where updates noticeably improved the car. The idea: by uncovering and fixing weaknesses, the team learns lessons that inform the future car. Not a copy-paste from sister team Racing Bulls, as those cars follow fundamentally different design paths, but rather a deeper understanding of basic shortcomings. It has worked to some extent; Verstappen climbed the championship standings with wins in Italy, Azerbaijan, and the USA, falling to just 36 points behind leader Lando Norris. “We are witnessing something extraordinary,” Mekies praised his driver.

But then came Brazil, the weekend that sent everything into a frenzy and turned Mekies’ gamble backfired spectacularly. Interlagos, with its legendary corners and unpredictable weather, should have suited Red Bull’s strengths – remember Verstappen’s rain-soaked victory from P17 last year? Instead, it became a nightmare. In sprint qualifying, Verstappen managed only sixth place, complaining of an “out-of-control” RB21 that was sliding excessively. Overnight, the team attempted drastic adjustments: a significant setup change, including reverting to an older track surface to regain traction. The result? A surprising Q1 exit for Verstappen – his first pure speed exit in his F1 career – and a double Q1 exit with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, the first since 2006. Verstappen eventually started from pit lane after changing his power unit, and after the race he admitted: “I can forget about the title.” The gap to Norris grew to 39 points.

Why did it fail so spectacularly? Mekies’ decision to continue development, regardless of the strategy, didn’t solve the core problems; in fact, it exacerbated them. By splitting resources, Red Bull missed out on crucial wind tunnel and CFD time for 2026, but more importantly, the inherent problems of the RB21 – its tight time window and balance issues – weren’t addressed. In Brazil, with its mix of slow and medium-speed corners, the car placed excessive demands on the tires, while the setup changes made it even more unstable. “We don’t understand how it can be so bad,” sighed Verstappen, cursing the brakes and grip. Helmut Marko, the 81-year-old advisor, put it bluntly: “Everything went wrong. We lost control in every sector.” Even Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, left the garage in frustration.

This failure in Brazil is not an isolated incident, but a symptom of Red Bull’s broader crisis. Internal turmoil is playing a role: the uncertainty surrounding the 2026 lineup, where Mekies is tempering Marko’s impulsive style in favor of a more patient approach, is causing distractions. Second place remains a carousel – Tsunoda is struggling, Lawson has been brought back, and talents like Hadjar are faltering. Add to that the fallout from Horner’s departure, with rumors of staff turnover and an outdated wind tunnel, and you have a team fighting against itself. McLaren, with its stable leadership and focus, now sits comfortably at the top of the constructors’ championship.

But Mekies’ decision isn’t entirely a mistake. It has forced Red Bull to dig deeper, and the late upgrades have certainly paid off in earlier races. “There’s a price to pay, but also an opportunity,” he emphasized. For Verstappen, who has shown “real dominance” in the USA, Brazil is a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s a reminder of why he’s such a phenomenon: extracting the most from an imperfect machine. The team now needs to prioritize: winning the remaining races to gain momentum and fundamentally rebuilding for 2026. Otherwise, Red Bull risks not only the title but also its empire.

The paddock is abuzz with speculation. Will Mekies’ patient approach convince Marko, or will it lead to more tension? For now, his appointment has only fueled the simmering tensions at Red Bull, and given Versteappen’s struggles in Brazil, one thing is clear: without radical changes, the Austrian will remain a shadow of his former self. Formula 1 is anxiously awaiting to see whether this wake-up call will spark a recovery or mark the beginning of a prolonged slump. With two races remaining, everything hinges on the next step.