Mekies admits difficult Red Bull weekend at Dutch Grand Prix
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies described the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort as difficult for the team. He noted a possible performance step backwards compared to before the summer break. The admission came after the team struggled for pace with both cars.
Mekies statement on team performance
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies described the Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort as difficult for the team.[1] He stated that performance-wise there was nowhere to hide and that the team appeared to have taken a step backwards compared to results before the summer break.[2]
Mekies noted that sessions grew progressively more challenging than those in Austria, Belgium or Hungary.[1] The comments followed a weekend in which the team secured seventh place with substitute driver Liam Lawson after Max Verstappen retired early from the race.
Context of the result
Mekies' remarks highlight the challenges Red Bull encountered extracting pace on this specific circuit layout. The data from qualifying and the race suggest limited single-lap speed relative to prior events, prompting internal review of recent developments.[2]
Next steps for the team
Work continues over the coming weeks before the Monza round, with the team investigating whether rivals had advanced more effectively with upgrades or whether other factors limited the car at Zandvoort.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/what-the-teams-said-race-day-in-the-netherlands-2026.1GTy1x6hObFlkGkaXKqhNS https://news.verstappen.com/?locatie=bericht&id=8713
Related reading
- [1]What the teams said – Race day at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix (formula1). Accessed 2026-08-24.
- [2]Mekies after Dutch GP: 'A difficult weekend for the team' (news.verstappen). Accessed 2026-08-24.