Red Bull boss explains 'biggest difference' in new F1 role

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has detailed the “biggest difference” between managing a top F1 squad and a midfield outfit.

Mekies took over control of the Red Bull team last month following Christian Horner's unexpected dismissal.

Mekies rose to the role after spending 18 months in charge of the sister Racing Bulls squad, which has traditionally raced further down the pecking order compared to Red Bull.

Having now gathered experience with both teams, Mekies detailed there is a higher level of expectation at Red Bull, where any result bar a win marks disappointment.

“We don’t underestimate what is ahead of us,” Mekies told media including RacingNews365.

“A top team has a target to win and the biggest difference with the competition in the midfield is that, at every race weekend, you come back and there is only one answer: did you win or did you not?

“That sets the level of expectation of everyone, that sets also the level of pushing that you need to apply to every single sector to compete. So we enjoy that, Red Bull Racing enjoys that.”

Red Bull has endured a difficult period of late, and for the first time since 2020, it is not a serious factor in the championship fight.

Mekies asserted the drop off in form hasn't deterred the team's motivation, insisting all members are pushing to return to the head of the pecking order.

“If you walk into the factory, you will find people who are only there to win and it’s a very strong feeling,” he said.

“Resilience is important in this sport, and you get weekends where you feel the world is not going the way you would like it to be.

“But there are so many talents, so many skills, so much experience in the team that we all very well know, outside of the noise of the race track, we very well know that we will make steps.

“It is not overwhelming. It’s a sentiment that we all went through more often than not, and I’m sure it will be the fuel for the future success of the team.”