P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull reveal ‘hard experimentation’ to leave Max Verstappen ‘in a better place’
Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull, has confirmed that the team has been experimenting extensively in recent grand prix weekends, with Baku serving as their latest “test” that will determine their strategy for the rest of the season. Red Bull, led by Max Verstappen, enters qualifying at the Baku Street Circuit fresh off a victory at Monza with a low-downforce package that helped them secure the win. Verstappen finished second quickest in the final practice session, trailing behind Lando Norris of McLaren, with Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari also very close behind. Baku’s unique setup, favoring low downforce due to its long straight, has suited the RB21 well in Verstappen’s hands so far. Mekies mentioned that the team has been exploring different directions with their setup in recent races, including Monza, Zandvoort, and Budapest, and they are now testing to see if the performance from Monza will carry over to future races. While Red Bull has made progress over the past few races, there is still work to be done to further improve their position.
