IS THE RB21 FIXED? THE SECRET SETUP MAX VERSTAPPEN USED TO STUN MCLAREN
Discover how Laurent Mekies empowered Max Verstappen to fix the RB21. Read the full story on Red Bull’s post-Horner transformation.
Let's check out how Laurent Mekies got Max Verstappen involved in fixing Red Bull after Christian Horner got the boot.
Let's rewind to early 2025. Max Verstappen is still the champ, and things at Red Bull look pretty chill from the outside.
The Horner/Marko drama has died down, and everyone's focused on one thing: winning a fifth title in a row.
But during winter testing, it's clear it won't be a cakewalk. Verstappen's new car, the RB21, still has the same problems as the 2024 model, and McLaren has built a seriously good car.
Verstappen wins in Japan and Imola, but by summertime, the title is slipping away. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are just too fast.
One problem is that Red Bull's old wind tunnel doesn't match what's happening on the track.
Verstappen and his engineers are tweaking the car all weekend, when they should be fast right from the first practice.
Verstappen can still pull off amazing qualifying laps with a crazy setup, but he's not always a factor in the races. Red Bull is having a hard time finding that perfect balance that McLaren seems to nail.
Verstappen's Important Role
So, Red Bull shakes things up, fires Christian Horner, and brings in Laurent Mekies. Horner takes the blame for the team's so-so results, and Mekies wastes no time switching things up.
It's soon obvious that Mekies wants to focus on driver feedback, not just rely on the simulator and wind tunnel.
Mekies put Verstappen in a key role ASAP. At Monza, Red Bull gave the car a floor upgrade, and even though technical director Pierre Wache had some doubts, Verstappen got to run a really aggressive setup.
It worked! He scored a big win and started a huge comeback, only missing the title by two points to Norris.
More than that, Verstappen got more say in the team. Mekies saw that some things weren't working and used 2025 to fix them.
Because Red Bull is running better with this new approach, they're in better shape for the 2026 rule changes.
Red Bull still needs to build a fast car, but now they know how to get the most out of it. Verstappen's feedback—and Isack Hadjar's—will be super important for building a good base and making quick setup changes when needed.
Even with the changes, it wasn't always easy in the second half of 2025, but Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda were more willing to push the car hard in practice.
This lets the team make changes faster and see results. That's how Red Bull transformed things, and it should pay off in 2026, with Verstappen playing a big part.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
