P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull stands by a key decision it made last season with the F1 title on the line.
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies acknowledges that the team is facing consequences for choosing to develop its 2025 Formula 1 car late last season. Despite Max Verstappen’s incredible performance in the championship, Red Bull’s decision to continue developing the RB21 car led to a tight title battle that Verstappen narrowly lost to Lando Norris of McLaren in Abu Dhabi. The team’s slow start in the 2026 season has left them sixth in the constructors’ championship, with Verstappen in eighth place in the drivers’ standings. Mekies defends the decision to develop late in 2025, emphasizing the team’s commitment to overcoming challenges and aiming for success this year. He stresses that Red Bull is fully focused on returning to a competitive position and is determined to make significant improvements in performance to outpace their rivals.
