P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sam Bird has explained why he cannot see Red Bull “challenging” for the F1 constructors’ championship at the moment.
Sam Bird has commented on how Red Bull being a “one-car team” will hinder its chances in the F1 constructors’ championship, despite Laurent Mekies making positive changes as the new team principal in Milton Keynes.
Mekies took over from Christian Horner following the British Grand Prix, with the RB21 struggling to keep up with McLaren’s MCL39.
Max Verstappen found himself behind Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the F1 drivers’ championship, trailing by 69 and 61 points, respectively.
It took time for Mekies to make improvements, but by the Italian Grand Prix, the RB21 saw significant progress after a crucial floor upgrade.
Verstappen’s performance improved, with the gap to Piastri shrinking, and he ultimately finished just two points behind Norris, who claimed the championship title.
Bird praised Mekies for rejuvenating the team, noting the positive impact of his decisions since taking over from Horner after Silverstone.
