Red Bull reveal details behind F1 car breakthrough after 'serious' loss

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has shared insight into how the team improved its car ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

The Milton Keynes-based squad endured a challenging opening three rounds of the season, lagging behind the front-runners.

However, it took a notable step forward in Miami, with four-time champion Max Verstappen expressing satisfaction with the progress.

Verstappen finished fifth, securing the team’s best result of the season so far as it continues to chase leaders Mercedes.

Mekies explained that Red Bull conducted a deep analysis of its data after the Japanese Grand Prix and used the five-week break to put the car in a more comfortable operating window for the drivers.

“After Suzuka on Sunday night, we said to eachother, look, regardless of our performance deficit overall in terms of development, compared to where we were late last year, regardless of that, we do not give, at the moment, a consistent car to our drivers, a car they can push with confidence, lap to lap, corner to corner,” he told media including RacingNews365.

“That was most of the work that has been done in this five weeks’ break, in addition to the normal development.

“So yes, there is a split between the two, whatever the number, whatever the split is. But of course, it was tangible. It is lap time.

“We knew we were losing a serious amount of lap time with that lack of confidence drivers would have in the car. 

“Steering was an aspect. We had quite a few other aspects as well, and we still have a few to sort out.”

Red Bull will return to the track next weekend in Canada at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a circuit which it has won at five times before.