Mekies on ‘difficult’ Red Bull weekend in Zandvoort
Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies described the Dutch Grand Prix as a difficult weekend after Max Verstappen crashed out and Liam Lawson finished seventh.
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies described the Dutch Grand Prix as a “very difficult weekend” for the Milton Keynes-based team. Verstappen crashed out on the opening lap at Zandvoort, while substitute driver Liam Lawson secured seventh place despite a 10-second time penalty. Mekies emphasized the importance of Verstappen’s safety following the heavy impact into the Turn 14 wall. The team’s struggles contrasted with their pre-summer pace, prompting questions about recent upgrades or underlying issues.
Mekies acknowledged that Verstappen’s early exit prevented a clear assessment of the RB19’s race pace. Session performances throughout the weekend suggested a step backward compared to previous events like Budapest, Spa, and Austria. The team principal noted that competition may have outpaced Red Bull’s recent developments or that an undetected limitation hindered performance. The uncertainty left unresolved questions about the car’s true potential in the race.
Lawson, substituting for an injured Isack Hadjar, delivered a commendable performance in his debut race for Red Bull. The 24-year-old finished just one tenth slower than Verstappen in qualifying and claimed points with seventh place despite the penalty. Mekies praised Lawson’s adaptation to the team and car under pressure, highlighting his ability to maximize available pace. The team’s collective effort included Hadjar’s presence in the garage, contributing to data analysis and future preparations.
Red Bull will regroup ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, where the team aims to address the performance gap identified in Zandvoort. Mekies framed the weekend as a learning opportunity, with the focus on identifying whether external factors or internal issues were responsible for the setback. The team’s immediate priority remains improving the RB19’s competitiveness before the next race. Verstappen’s return and Hadjar’s continued development are expected to play key roles in the upcoming recovery.