Red Bull are set to receive a big boost to their chances ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
A Max Verstappen masterclass saw Red Bull take the win in the sprint. It was a dream start for new Team Principal Laurent Mekies, who can now claim to have won his first race in charge of the team
Yuki Tsunoda didn’t score points, which has been the story of Red Bull’s season so far. Verstappen has scored every one of the team’s points this year. But the team will be hopeful of getting a result from both cars for the Belgian Grand Prix after this recent news.
Yuki Tsunoda to receive upgrades to his Red Bull ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix
Red Bull brought an upgraded floor to Spa, which they were initially only able to fit Verstappen’s car. But they have now been able to fit the new floor to Tsunoda’s car before qualifying, giving a boost to his chances for the main race.
Verstappen was positive about the new floor, saying after the sprint, “I think it’s been good. We just tried to optimise the car and put performance on it like everyone else, and we are doing that.
“That’s for sure a positive, and we just need to keep doing that.”
Red Bull’s second seat problems are well-documented. They have been outscored by Sauber in recent races due to a dip in Verstappen’s form, demonstrating just how much of a one-car team they have become.
Liam Lawson was dropped after two races with Red Bull, but his replacement, Tsunoda, has performed no better. He hopes this new upgrade will bring him to the points for the first time as a Red Bull driver.
‘The team can always count on me…’, Max Verstappen reacts to sprint win
A turbulent few weeks, after Red Bull sacked Christian Horner, have ended positively with Mekies’ first win in charge.
Verstappen said it was a much-needed result for a team in need of a mental lift, but claimed that his team knows what they are getting from him every weekend.
He said, “The team can always count on me to give my very best, no matter who is in charge. They know that I’m never holding back, and I’m trying to get the best possible result, which is also what they pay me for.
“It’s positive. We need positive energy, and that’s a great start for us.”
Verstappen extended his record as the best sprint race driver in F1 history. He has 12 wins in sprints since they were introduced in 2021, and the next highest tally is two.
Grand Prixs are an entirely different prospect, and it’s unlikely he can keep the faster McLarens behind for the entire race distance. Still, it’s evidence that Red Bull are not a million miles off the pace.