Red Bull declare defiant 'nothing more than a consequence' stance

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is adamant that the Milton Keynes-based squad will not change its approach to the F1 season as it builds to a crescendo.

The Frenchman has transformed the six-time constructors' champion's fortunes since taking over from Christian Horner in July.

New ways of working and a floor upgrade have vaulted the team back into contention for second in the constructors' standings — and thrust Max Verstappen back into the drivers' title fight.

With four rounds remaining, Red Bull, in fourth, is a mere 10 points adrift of Ferrari in second. As for its Dutch driver, he is just 36 points behind leader Lando Norris, having been 104 adrift of first place only five rounds ago.

However, Mekies insists the unexpected possibilities for the campaign will not alter the team's strategy of tackling each grand prix as they come and, crucially, not looking at the championship standings.

Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, after Verstappen finished third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, he said: "So we are not going to change our approach.

"We are not looking at the championships five races ago; we were not looking at championships before Austin, we were not looking after Austin.

"What we look at is: Yes, we don't feel one hundred per cent good about this weekend in terms of car performance, so that's where the focus goes...

"The focus will be: What would we do if we came back [to Mexico City], what can we learn for Brazil?"

Whilst Verstappen cut the gap to the championship leader from 40 points to 36, Red Bull lacked the competitive edge it has enjoyed in recent weeks.

In the eyes of Mekies, the drivers' title fight and the race for runner-up in the constructors' battle are nothing more than a "consequence" of executing each round.

"The rest? The championship is nothing more than a consequence," the 48-year-old added.

"It doesn't change anything for us, whether we are close or far, we still want, as a team, to consider, extract and leave knowing we have extracted absolutely everything and that everything is good enough to fight for the win.

"That was not the case [in Mexico City]. That's where the focus will be."