{"id":1879473,"date":"2026-04-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1879473"},"modified":"2026-04-12T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T05:00:00","slug":"red-bull-in-full-attack-mode-after-paying-the-price-over-key-f1-2025-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1879473","title":{"rendered":"Red Bull in \u201cfull attack mode\u201d after \u2018paying the price\u2019 over key F1 2025 decision"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Red Bull in \u201cfull attack mode\u201d after \u2018paying the price\u2019 over key F1 2025 decision<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Red Bull stands by a key decision it made last season with the F1 title on the line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Lewis Larkam <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-12T09:00:00+01:00\">12 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Red Bull has made a lacklustre start to F1 2026<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies admits his team is paying the price for its decision to develop its 2025 Formula 1 car late into the season.<\/p>\n<p>With Max Verstappen producing an incredible comeback in the world championship, Red Bull continued to develop its RB21 challenger late into the 2025 campaign as the Dutchman remarkably took the title battle right down to the wire.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Verstappen ultimately came up short by two points as he was denied a fifth consecutive world championship by McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris in a nail-biting Abu Dhabi finale.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull has endured a difficult start to F1\u2019s new regulation cycle and has suffered lacklustre results across the opening three rounds, leaving it a lowly sixth in the constructors\u2019 championship, while Verstappen is eighth in the drivers\u2019 standings with just 12 points.<\/p>\n<p>Team principal Mekies stands by Red Bull\u2019s decision to develop late into 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe thought and we still think it was the right thing to do, because we felt that turning the page to \u201826 would have been a little bit of an easy escape and a wishful thinking that next year will be better, even though we didn&#8217;t fully understand what were the limitations of 2025,\u201d Mekies told the <em>Beyond the Grid <\/em>podcast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe didn&#8217;t think it was the right way. Now, of course, the time and energy we invested for the late push last year, does it have an impact on where you start \u201926? Of course it does. Of course, we pay a bit of the price today. Do we use it as an excuse? No.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c000a19ece7f93d501faac42ef7d1ba8b05644a697daa7f07033c8250429ef20\">  What \u2018surprised\u2019 an F1 race winner about Max Verstappen journalist spat   Why Max Verstappen is not racing in NLS3 this weekend <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe are not happy with the starting point. But we think we will get through these difficulties. As we did last year, we will get the full understanding of the limitations. And this team has been very, very good in turning things around and we have another chance to do it this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mekies insists Red Bull is in \u201cfull attack mode\u201d to return to winning ways in F1.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe try to do everything we can to make sure this is not a transition year, despite the size of the challenge, despite the new power unit challenge,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We want to make sure that we are not in a transition year. No. We are not at all in that mode. We are in full attack mode,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-127dbea4edc9434184fdc88b25943a02847307b73b5cc002a6d3617342d9a697\">  Max Verstappen\u2019s father reacts to bombshell Gianpiero Lambiase exit   How Max Verstappen\u2019s F1 race engineer will fit in at McLaren <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cAs we said, not happy about the starting point. But if you walk in Milton Keynes right now, there is fire in every single department. There is a burning fire of wanting to go back as fast as possible to a more competitive car, to a better position.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that&#8217;s what you feel in Milton Keynes today, is that burning drive to get enough understanding and development to the car, in a way that we can outperform the development of the competition and get back up.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">F1<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Red Bull<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Max Verstappen<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Martin Brundle claims F1 drivers are \u2018fourth in line\u2019 amid safety concerns<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1404538_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> What \u2018surprised\u2019 an F1 race winner about Max Verstappen journalist spat<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399194_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-74df7c0dc6b037bd56b644615a9373a56da0974e5570a5b8605a1e0525755012\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Lewis Larkam<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">F1 Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for Crash.net around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-d3b1b8c42729e36d9511cd71174def2977ce7fcaca85dd5f92ec5282df44e8fa\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  Feature <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775806200\"> 10\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"The start of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  Feature <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Why Lambiase isn&#8217;t the only ace McLaren could play to lure Verstappen<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775748723\"> 09\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202512070361.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Could Brown tempt Verstappen to join McLaren? \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>McLaren confirms Gianpiero Lambiase signing as Red Bull responds to shock exit<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775743636\"> 09\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1396596_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Verstappen will lose another key ally in Lambiase\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Max Verstappen&#8217;s &#8216;secret trick&#8217; GT rivals &#8220;would never have thought of&#8221; teased<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775736420\"> 09\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/si202603260165.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Verstappen has had little to smile about in F1 this year\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  Feature <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Verstappen\u2019s F1 future even more in doubt after Lambiase shock <\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775727047\"> 09\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202508310193.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Lambiase has engineered Verstappen throughout his Red Bull career\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Verstappen to lose right-hand man to McLaren bombshell report claims<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775716952\"> 09\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202512070136.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Lambiase has been the voice in Verstappen's ear at Red Bull \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Red Bull stands by a key decision it made last season with the F1 title on the line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies admits his team is paying the price for its decision to develop its 2025 Formula 1 car late into the season.<\/p>\n<p>With Max Verstappen producing an incredible comeback in the world championship, Red Bull continued to develop its RB21 challenger late into the 2025 campaign as the Dutchman remarkably took the title battle right down to the wire.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Verstappen ultimately came up short by two points as he was denied a fifth consecutive world championship by McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris in a nail-biting Abu Dhabi finale.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull has endured a difficult start to F1\u2019s new regulation cycle and has suffered lacklustre results across the opening three rounds, leaving it a lowly sixth in the constructors\u2019 championship, while Verstappen is eighth in the drivers\u2019 standings with just 12 points.<\/p>\n<p>Team principal Mekies stands by Red Bull\u2019s decision to develop late into 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe thought and we still think it was the right thing to do, because we felt that turning the page to \u201826 would have been a little bit of an easy escape and a wishful thinking that next year will be better, even though we didn&#8217;t fully understand what were the limitations of 2025,\u201d Mekies told the <em>Beyond the Grid <\/em>podcast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe didn&#8217;t think it was the right way. Now, of course, the time and energy we invested for the late push last year, does it have an impact on where you start \u201926? Of course it does. Of course, we pay a bit of the price today. Do we use it as an excuse? No.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c000a19ece7f93d501faac42ef7d1ba8b05644a697daa7f07033c8250429ef20\">  What \u2018surprised\u2019 an F1 race winner about Max Verstappen journalist spat   Why Max Verstappen is not racing in NLS3 this weekend <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe are not happy with the starting point. But we think we will get through these difficulties. As we did last year, we will get the full understanding of the limitations. And this team has been very, very good in turning things around and we have another chance to do it this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mekies insists Red Bull is in \u201cfull attack mode\u201d to return to winning ways in F1.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe try to do everything we can to make sure this is not a transition year, despite the size of the challenge, despite the new power unit challenge,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We want to make sure that we are not in a transition year. No. We are not at all in that mode. We are in full attack mode,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-127dbea4edc9434184fdc88b25943a02847307b73b5cc002a6d3617342d9a697\">  Max Verstappen\u2019s father reacts to bombshell Gianpiero Lambiase exit   How Max Verstappen\u2019s F1 race engineer will fit in at McLaren <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cAs we said, not happy about the starting point. But if you walk in Milton Keynes right now, there is fire in every single department. There is a burning fire of wanting to go back as fast as possible to a more competitive car, to a better position.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that&#8217;s what you feel in Milton Keynes today, is that burning drive to get enough understanding and development to the car, in a way that we can outperform the development of the competition and get back up.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies admits his team is paying the price for its decision to develop its 2025 Formula 1 car late into the season.<\/p>\n<p>With Max Verstappen producing an incredible comeback in the world championship, Red Bull continued to develop its RB21 challenger late into the 2025 campaign as the Dutchman remarkably took the title battle right down to the wire.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Verstappen ultimately came up short by two points as he was denied a fifth consecutive world championship by McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris in a nail-biting Abu Dhabi finale.<\/p>\n<p>Red Bull has endured a difficult start to F1\u2019s new regulation cycle and has suffered lacklustre results across the opening three rounds, leaving it a lowly sixth in the constructors\u2019 championship, while Verstappen is eighth in the drivers\u2019 standings with just 12 points.<\/p>\n<p>Team principal Mekies stands by Red Bull\u2019s decision to develop late into 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe thought and we still think it was the right thing to do, because we felt that turning the page to \u201826 would have been a little bit of an easy escape and a wishful thinking that next year will be better, even though we didn&#8217;t fully understand what were the limitations of 2025,\u201d Mekies told the <em>Beyond the Grid <\/em>podcast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe didn&#8217;t think it was the right way. Now, of course, the time and energy we invested for the late push last year, does it have an impact on where you start \u201926? Of course it does. Of course, we pay a bit of the price today. Do we use it as an excuse? No.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-c000a19ece7f93d501faac42ef7d1ba8b05644a697daa7f07033c8250429ef20\">  What \u2018surprised\u2019 an F1 race winner about Max Verstappen journalist spat   Why Max Verstappen is not racing in NLS3 this weekend <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe are not happy with the starting point. But we think we will get through these difficulties. As we did last year, we will get the full understanding of the limitations. And this team has been very, very good in turning things around and we have another chance to do it this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mekies insists Red Bull is in \u201cfull attack mode\u201d to return to winning ways in F1.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe try to do everything we can to make sure this is not a transition year, despite the size of the challenge, despite the new power unit challenge,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We want to make sure that we are not in a transition year. No. We are not at all in that mode. We are in full attack mode,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-127dbea4edc9434184fdc88b25943a02847307b73b5cc002a6d3617342d9a697\">  Max Verstappen\u2019s father reacts to bombshell Gianpiero Lambiase exit   How Max Verstappen\u2019s F1 race engineer will fit in at McLaren <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cAs we said, not happy about the starting point. But if you walk in Milton Keynes right now, there is fire in every single department. There is a burning fire of wanting to go back as fast as possible to a more competitive car, to a better position.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that&#8217;s what you feel in Milton Keynes today, is that burning drive to get enough understanding and development to the car, in a way that we can outperform the development of the competition and get back up.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/f1\/news\/1092955\/1\/red-bull-full-attack-mode-after-paying-price-over-key-f1-2025-decision&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/si202603290580.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Red Bull in \u201cfull attack mode\u201d after \u2018paying the price\u2019 over key F1 2025 decision Red Bull stands by a key decision it made last season with the F1 title on the line. Lewis Larkam 12 Apr 2026 Share Red Bull has made a lacklustre start to F1 2026 Add as a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1879473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1879473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879473\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1879473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1879473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1879473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}