Laurent Mekies has now changed his stance on Red Bull’s 2025 upgrades hurting Max Verstappen in 2026

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Red Bull made a key decision during the 2025 F1 season to catapult Max Verstappen into title contention, which may come at the cost of their new car next season.

Max Verstappen was just two points away from pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in F1 championship history.

The Dutchman, who once trailed the championship lead by 104 points after the summer break, hit his stride during the second half of the season to take the most race wins out of everybody on the grid.

The secret behind Verstappen’s resurgence was Red Bull’s decision to continue upgrading the RB21.

The Austrian constructor brought upgrades to their 2025 F1 car in the latter stages of the season, whilst every other team on the grid opted to cease development and focus solely on the new regulations that are set to shake up the pecking order next year.

• READ MORE: Laurent Mekies is adamant Max Verstappen is ‘more extraordinary’ outside an F1 car than in it

Is Max Verstappen making an excuse for losing out on the 2025 F1 title to Lando Norris?

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Laurent Mekies now thinks that Red Bull’s 2025 development strategy might ‘cost’ them next year

During an appearance at an awards ceremony for an Italian publication, Laurent Mekies gave an interview to select media over the recently concluded F1 season.

The Frenchman noted the silver linings of Verstappen’s failed attempt to secure a fifth world championship, as well as noting the difficulties they may face next season because of the extra upgrades they brought this year.

Mekies said via Mundo Deportivo, “I think that, despite the two points we missed out on, it’s historic how the team refused to abandon its goal of becoming champions in this hard-fought 2025 season.

“Never giving up is a Red Bull characteristic. We tried to understand the car until the very end; we didn’t want to stop development, and this might have a cost next year, but for us, it was important to always be pushing the car to its limits.”

The words mark the first time that the Frenchman has acknowledged potential issues that may arise in their 2026 F1 challenger because of the extra focus on the RB21.

Previously, Mekies was adamant that they would not have green-lit further upgrades for the RB21 if it came at the expense of next year’s car.

He told journalists after the race weekend in Mexico City, via Racer, “We are doing it this way because we think for us, leaving alone the other guys, it’s a net gain.

“We validate our approaches, and [that will help] 2026. If we thought it would compromise it, we would not be doing it. We know there is a price to pay. We think it’s reasonable and we think it’s worth it.”

• READ MORE: Red Bull warned they’re ‘going to suffer’ as Laurent Mekies cannot fill one void Helmut Marko left

Laurent Mekies also shared the ‘most sensational thing’ about Red Bull compared to Ferrari

During his recent interview in Italy, the 48-year-old also recalled his time at Ferrari, as well as praising his current team in Milton Keynes.

Mekies added, “It was an incredible privilege to go from an extraordinary family like Ferrari’s to another extraordinary one like Red Bull’s.

“Perhaps the most sensational thing about this team is its ability to take risks and push everything to the limit.  

“And the point is, decisions are never without consequences: it’s easy to say you’re taking risks, but then you get hurt. And I can say that we’ve been hurt many times this year, even in the second half of the championship, which was a comeback.

“You might remember Budapest, Zandvoort, or Brazil. But all of this is part of the way we like to compete in races.

“It’s what drives us to be passionate about this beautiful sport, what makes us wake up in the morning ready for a new challenge.”