MEKIES INSISTS ‘IT’S ONLY THE BEGINNING’ AFTER CANADA PODIUM

Laurent Mekies believes Red Bull’s Canada podium for Max Verstappen signals "only the beginning" for the team's recovery, crediting bold risk-taking for the P3 finish. After a dismal Sprint, Verstappen was "extremely unhappy" with the car, prompting aggressive setup changes. This gamble paid off, proving the team is willing to push boundaries to unlock performance.

Mekies highlighted the Canada result as a strong confirmation of the "Miami step" forward, indicating they are genuinely closing the gap to the frontrunners, even as rivals introduce updates. While Verstappen secured his first podium of the season, rookie Isack Hadjar finished P5 despite incurring multiple penalties. Mekies saw Hadjar’s race, and Verstappen’s initial Saturday struggles, as further invitations to explore and take more risks.

The team principal acknowledges that taking chances involves "pain," but insists it's crucial for learning and maximizing their potential with this generation of cars. Red Bull is clearly not content with just confirming upgrades; they aim to aggressively close the performance deficit as the season progresses.