Mekies says Red Bull remains in the fight after Austin qualifying P2-P3

Red Bull missed pole in Austin but put both cars in the top three in qualifying for the United States Grand Prix. Max Verstappen was second behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli, with Isack Hadjar third. Team principal Laurent Mekies called it a strong result, noting that many rivals had arrived with major upgrades, and said Red Bull remained firmly in the fight.

Speaking to Viaplay, Mekies said Verstappen had been chasing pole after Q1 and Q2 despite completing very few laps in those sessions. Verstappen could not improve late in Q3. Mekies said several drivers and cars found the final segment harder; he suggested the wind may have shifted and credited Antonelli with producing the quicker lap.

Mekies also praised Hadjar’s work. He said Hadjar had been genuinely unhappy that morning and that the team still had substantial work to do, but the driver continued working well with his engineers, supported from Milton Keynes. They gradually brought the car into its desired operating window, and Mekies said Hadjar raised his performance impressively.

For the race, Mekies expected five or six cars to fight for victory. He said both Ferraris and both Mercedes cars would be in the contest, hoped Red Bull could join with Verstappen and Hadjar, and noted that McLaren had been a little slower even though Lando Norris had shown speed at times.