Mekies praises Mercedes but says Red Bull’s recovery was ‘at least as impressive’

After the Brazilian Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised Mercedes’ work and highlighted his own team’s recovery. Mercedes began the season more than a second ahead of Red Bull, he said. Red Bull closed that gap in half a season, a recovery Mekies called “at least as impressive”.

By the time Mekies spoke, Mercedes had secured the constructors’ title and was on 652 points, having opened 2026 with a one-two in Australia. He said Mercedes had shifted its focus to the new regulations earlier than most teams. But an early switch was only one part of the task: Mercedes also had to turn that focus into lap time, and it did, Mekies said.