Laurent Mekies has highlighted the performance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix as their strongest race of the season so far. The team introduced a significant upgrade package for the event, which appeared to help close the gap to their main rivals.
Red Bull Racing brought changes to the floor and rear suspension of their car, aiming to enhance both performance and reliability. Verstappen, who started fifth on the grid after a crash in qualifying, made swift progress during the race. Early on, he overtook Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc, moving up the order by the second lap. He then engaged in a close battle with Lewis Hamilton before finishing second, less than two seconds behind race winner George Russell.
This race marked a notable improvement for Red Bull, who had struggled earlier in the season under the new regulations. Mekies described the Austrian Grand Prix as “undoubtedly the strongest race” Red Bull has had this year, emphasizing how the upgrade package helped reduce the performance gap to Mercedes from over a second to approximately a tenth of the winning pace.
Mekies also praised Verstappen’s ability to manage the race under extreme heat conditions, noting his skillful tyre management and control throughout different phases of the event. While the team acknowledged that a more aggressive strategy might have offered additional opportunities, they accepted second place as a realistic and positive outcome given the circumstances.
The Austrian Grand Prix demonstrated Red Bull’s progress in adapting to the 2026 regulations. The upgrades introduced at their home race formed part of an effort to regain competitive ground, particularly against Mercedes, who have been strong contenders this season. Verstappen’s drive from fifth on the grid to a close second place reflected both the driver’s determination and the impact of the technical improvements.
Other teams mentioned in the race context included Mercedes, with George Russell taking the win and Lewis Hamilton finishing closely behind Verstappen. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was also noted as part of the competitive field, though Red Bull’s performance was the main focus of Mekies’ evaluation.
Overall, Mekies’ comments underline that while Red Bull is not yet at the front in terms of outright race-winning pace, the Austrian Grand Prix showed encouraging signs of progress. The team’s upgrade package and Verstappen’s strong racecraft contributed to narrowing the gap, marking a key step forward in their campaign under the current regulations.
