Laurent Mekies (Red Bull Racing): Upgrade package and ‘diet’ plans for the car

The 2026 Formula 1 season, as the first under the new regulations, is even more of a development race than usual: whoever brings new parts gains an advantage on the track – until another team catches up or overtakes them in the development race. Mercedes started the season with a lead. McLaren put the Stuttgart-based team under pressure in Miami with an upgrade package. Most recently, Ferrari stepped up a gear, crowning their extensive upgrade package with a victory for Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona. Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies (currently fourth in the Constructors’ Championship) announced: The Austrians are bringing a major package to their home race at the Red Bull Ring!

Red Bull Racing is bringing upgrades to Austria!

Mekies: “It’s true that the picture this season, with the differences in performance, has a lot to do with who brings upgrades.” Ferrari recently introduced a lot of new elements and took a big step forward in Barcelona. Now it’s Red Bull Racing’s turn to make the big leap – or so the hope goes. Mekies announced after the Barcelona Grand Prix: “Our next major upgrade is coming to Austria.” So this weekend in Spielberg!

Mekies’ ‘diet’ remark

One area for improvement at Red Bull Racing: the car’s weight. The RB22 is a bit sluggish and would benefit from a weight reduction. Team principal Laurent Mekies offered a tongue-in-cheek plan: “I’m going to eat less. That’s my plan for Austria. I hope that will make us lighter. Even though I know Austrian food tastes very good. But the plan is for the car to eat a bit less and go on a diet.” So the Frenchman isn’t giving anything away just yet about how Red Bull Racing intends to reduce the weight technically.

Mekies said after the race in Barcelona: “Ferrari have brought a really strong package with them. So they’ve done very well. Congratulations on their first win with Lewis! The gap between Mercedes and the Mercedes challengers has slowly closed over the last two races. They’ve taken a big step forward with their package. And to be successful on a track like Barcelona says a lot about the quality of the chassis and the engine.” The Circuit de Catalunya is a popular test track for good reason: with many different types of corners, the circuit has a balanced layout that challenges the cars in a variety of ways – and consequently provides a representative picture of the cars’ current state.

On the high-speed circuit in Spielberg, with its significant elevation changes, different qualities are required. At the Red Bull Ring, engine power plays a major role. As far as that is concerned, it recently emerged that Red Bull Racing has the most powerful engine on the grid – at least as far as the internal combustion engine’s output is concerned. What else is possible with the help of an upgrade package and a ‘car diet’? “Only the lap times will tell,” says Mekies.

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