Red Bull critical vulnerability highlighted despite revival under Laurent Mekies

Sam Bird has addressed how Red Bull being a "one-car team" will prevent it from fighting for the F1 constructors' championship, despite new team principal Laurent Mekies "galvanising" the situation in Milton Keynes.

The Frenchman took over from Christian Horner at the helm of the energy drinks-backed squad in the days following the British Grand Prix, with the RB21 struggling to compete with the dominant McLaren MCL39.

Max Verstappen had been cut adrift by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the F1 drivers' championship battle, sitting 69 and 61 points behind the papaya pair, respectively.

It took a few rounds for Mekies to right the ship, but by the Italian Grand Prix, new ways of working at Red Bull and a vital floor upgrade had transformed the RB21 — and, by extension, Verstappen's fortunes.

The Dutchman was able to consistently whittle down the once-104-point deficit to Piastri, and by winning six of the final nine rounds of the campaign, he ended the year just two points behind eventual champion Norris in the standings.

"I think Mekies has done a really good job in galvanising that team," said Bird when appraising Red Bull's season on the BBC's F1 Chequered Flag Podcast.

"I remember we did a podcast a couple of years ago when news came out about Christian Horner, and we were very downcast on the future of the Milton Keynes-based team.

"But look, I think that when he [Mekies] picked up the reins after Silverstone, the decisions that he's made have been really strong."

The lingering issue

However, the Formula E and former Mercedes F1 test driver also pointed out a glaring weakness that remains for Red Bull.

Unless Mekies revises the way the team develops its car next season — when the F1 chassis and power unit rules are overhauled — or Isack Hadjar, who has taken the second seat, completely defies the recent expectations of the other half of the team's garage, it will effectively remain a single-car squad.

Bird underlined how this has prevented it from competing in the constructors' championship for the past two years, with a pair of third-place finishes.

"The one thing about Red Bull, though, is they are still a one-car team," he explained.

"And unless Max Verstappen wins every race, I can't see them challenging for a constructors' championship again.

"We'll see what Isack Hadjar can do next year, but it is a one-car team right now."