Laurent Mekies has highlighted the progress made by Oracle Red Bull Racing following the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen secured a podium finish and Isack Hadjar delivered a notable recovery drive. The team principal praised the car's ongoing development, reflecting positively on the squad's recent performances.
At the Belgian Grand Prix on July 19, 2026, Verstappen qualified second, benefiting from a tow from his teammate Hadjar. He finished the race in third place after a well-timed pit stop just before a Virtual Safety Car period, which Mekies described as unfortunate since it may have prevented Verstappen from finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, Hadjar started from the back of the grid due to a power unit penalty but managed to climb up to sixth place using an aggressive three-stop strategy, successfully holding off competitors like Lando Norris.
Mekies noted that the team has seen clear improvements since the Austrian and Silverstone Grands Prix, with the car becoming “stronger and stronger.” He emphasized that the current package allows Red Bull to contend for podiums at most circuits, though he acknowledged the challenge of closing the gap to race winner Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes AMG Petronas. Hadjar’s performance was singled out as his best race with Red Bull so far, with Mekies praising both his pace and the strategic decisions that enabled his recovery through the field.
The Belgian Grand Prix results provided a snapshot of Red Bull's current form, showing the team’s ability to compete closely with Ferrari and Mercedes. Verstappen’s podium finish was a testament to the car’s pace and the team’s tactical execution, while Hadjar’s drive demonstrated resilience and effective race management despite starting with a significant handicap.
While Mekies remains realistic about the remaining performance gap to Mercedes, the progress since earlier races this season suggests that Red Bull is steadily improving its competitiveness. The team’s focus on development and race strategy continues to be a key factor in extracting strong results under varying conditions.
Overall, the comments from Mekies underline a positive trajectory for Oracle Red Bull Racing as they aim to maintain podium contention throughout the season. The Belgian Grand Prix served as a clear example of the gains made and the challenges that remain in the pursuit of race wins.
