MILTON KEYNES — Laurent Mekies says Red Bull Racing's first win of the 2026 Formula 1 season is the culmination of the squad's gradual upturn in form, but he believes it is too early to tell if the team can now be in the mix everywhere. Mekies acknowledged the gap to the front has closed, yet added, "It's difficult to be on par with Mercedes consistently."
Red Bull started the campaign over a second behind the frontrunners and has gradually chipped away at its deficit with a relentless stream of upgrades, Mekies said. He described the breakthrough victory as the payoff for that incremental progress, with the team's latest package marking the most recent step in a methodical recovery from its early-season shortfall.
Mekies stressed the win validates the direction of the development program but does not yet prove Red Bull can fight for victories at every circuit. Sustaining that level against Mercedes will require continued execution, and he indicated upcoming races will determine whether the current form translates into consistent contention.