Red Bull Gains 'Important' Confidence from 2024 Turnaround Ahead of 2026

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has highlighted how the team's "sensational" mid-season recovery in 2024 provides "a level of confidence" in its tools and methodologies as it heads into the crucial 2026 season, which features new regulations and its debut as a power unit manufacturer.

Why it matters:

Heading into a massive regulatory reset and its first venture as a full works team producing both chassis and engine, Red Bull's ability to radically improve a struggling car mid-season is a critical proof of concept. The demonstrated resilience and development speed validate the team's core engineering processes, which will be foundational for success in the new era against established manufacturers like Ferrari and Mercedes.

The details:

• After a strong start, Max Verstappen and the RB21 slumped in the middle of the 2024 season, falling 104 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix.
• A pivotal floor upgrade introduced at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza transformed the car's performance, sparking a dramatic turnaround.
• This upgrade propelled Verstappen back into title contention, leading to six victories in the final nine races, including the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
• Mekies emphasized that the dominant pole and race win in Abu Dhabi on a difficult track was a telling result for the team after not being the fastest package in races like Qatar.

By the numbers:

The scale of the 2024 in-season recovery is stark. From a 104-point deficit after Zandvoort, Verstappen finished the season just two points shy of champion Lando Norris in a three-way fight that also included Piastri. The six wins from the final nine events underscore the effectiveness of the development push.

What's next:

The confidence gained from this turnaround is now being channeled into the 2026 project. While some 2024 methodologies will carry over, others will become less relevant under the new rules. The focus is on internal learning from the past season's narrow miss, not public dissection of where two points were lost. For Red Bull, proving it can execute a major in-season revival under pressure is perhaps the most valuable preparation for the uncertainties of 2026.