Crimson Bull’s lead driver Max Verstappen has struggled to compete with the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on a constant foundation this 12 months, however the circuits the place he has been in a position to are quick and flowing – precisely like Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps.
Verstappen, in spite of everything, was on pole at high-speed Silverstone three weeks in the past, just for his race to return unstuck within the moist as a consequence of the low-downforce set-up Crimson Bull selected.
Spa is known for its lengthy, demanding, quick corners, similar to Suzuka, the place Verstappen gained from pole. It will be no shock to see him repeat that feat this weekend.
Whereas that will be a pleasant fillip for the brand new Mekies-led Crimson Bull, it could not be a sign that their issues have been behind them.
The staff’s struggles this 12 months have been central within the mixture of points that led to Horner’s departure. The shareholders – drained, too, of Horner’s calls for to be in complete management of every part whereas the staff seemed to be fracturing round him – felt one thing wanted to be carried out.
However that is nonetheless the core of the staff that two years in the past produced essentially the most dominant season in F1 historical past, and for which final 12 months Verstappen gained seven of the primary 10 races to put the foundations for his fourth world title.
So it was no shock to listen to Mekies pledging, in a video distributed by Crimson Bull, to get the most effective out of what he describes as “this unbelievable staff”.
As somebody who has been in F1 for greater than 20 years, and who has labored at governing physique the FIA and Ferrari along with two stints at Crimson Bull’s junior staff, Mekies already is aware of properly a number of key folks at Crimson Bull, comparable to technical director Pierre Wache and head of engineering Paul Monaghan.
About the Author
