Red Bull's 'one-car team' weakness persists despite Mekies-led revival
Despite a strong revival under new boss Laurent Mekies, Red Bull remains a 'one-car team' reliant on Max Verstappen, a critical flaw that Sam Bird says will continue to prevent a constructors' title challenge unless development philosophy changes or rookie Isack Hadjar dramatically outperforms expectations.
Sam Bird has highlighted how Red Bull's continued reliance on Max Verstappen as a sole championship contender—a "one-car team" dynamic—will prevent it from seriously fighting for the Formula 1 constructors' title, despite the clear progress and galvanizing effect of new team principal Laurent Mekies.
Why it matters:
The constructors' championship is the ultimate measure of a team's overall strength and operational excellence, carrying significant financial and prestige rewards. Red Bull's inability to field two consistently competitive cars has capped its potential for two consecutive seasons, resulting in third-place finishes. As the 2026 regulation overhaul approaches, addressing this fundamental imbalance is critical for the team to become a true all-round championship contender, not just a vehicle for an individual driver's success.
The details:
Bird, a Formula E driver and former Mercedes F1 test driver, acknowledged the transformative impact Laurent Mekies has had since taking over from Christian Horner after the British Grand Prix.
- The team was struggling with an uncompetitive RB21, and Verstappen faced significant deficits to McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the drivers' championship.
- Mekies implemented new working methods and a crucial floor upgrade by the Italian Grand Prix, which dramatically turned around the car's performance and Verstappen's fortunes.
- The Dutch driver won six of the final nine rounds, closing a once 104-point gap to end the season just two points behind champion Norris.
However, Bird pinpointed the lingering structural issue: "The one thing about Red Bull, though, is they are still a one-car team. And unless Max Verstappen wins every race, I can't see them challenging for a constructors' championship again." This dynamic has persisted for two years, with the second car failing to contribute meaningful points consistently, directly resulting in those third-place constructors' finishes.
What's next:
The spotlight now falls on rookie Isack Hadjar, who will take the second seat next season. His performance will be the immediate test of whether Red Bull can evolve beyond its one-car status.
- The team must revise its car development philosophy to produce a machine that both drivers can extract maximum performance from, a shift that may be necessary under the new 2026 chassis and power unit rules.
- Bird remains skeptical in the short term, stating, "We'll see what Isack Hadjar can do next year, but it is a one-car team right now." The coming season will reveal if Mekies' leadership can translate Verstappen's individual brilliance into the collective strength needed to win the biggest prize in F1.