P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies believes that McLaren has lost its “relative performance” and is no longer the “dominant” force since F1’s summer break.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies believes McLaren has lost its dominance in Formula 1 since the summer break, with Max Verstappen gaining ground on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Verstappen’s recent resurgence has been attributed to Red Bull gaining around half a second per lap in race pace compared to McLaren. Mekies suggests that Ferrari and Mercedes are also contenders now, leading to a more open-ended final stage of the season.
The recent performance spike of Red Bull has made them a match for McLaren, thanks to aerodynamic and mechanical revisions to their car. Verstappen’s improved results align with Red Bull introducing a revised floor and new front wing, expanding the car’s performance window. While the updated components played a role, Mekies emphasizes that Red Bull’s competitiveness is the result of a combination of various factors and not just one upgrade.
