How Laurent Mekies Revitalized Yuki Tsunoda's Performance at Red Bull

Yuki Tsunoda credits new Red Bull Formula 1 boss Laurent Mekies with helping him find "the right direction," leading to his best performance of the season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Tsunoda revealed he's now using set-ups reminiscent of his time at Racing Bulls, a change facilitated by Mekies' deep understanding of the Japanese driver.

Why it matters:

After a challenging first half of the season, Tsunoda's recent resurgence, including a P6 finish in Baku, is crucial for his F1 future. With both seats at sister team Racing Bulls still open for 2026, and a potential promotion to Red Bull Racing on the line, consistently strong performances are vital. His ability to score points and aid Max Verstappen by challenging rivals like Lando Norris is exactly what Red Bull expects.

The Details:

• Azerbaijan Grand Prix Success: Tsunoda delivered his best weekend in Baku, reaching Q3 in a chaotic qualifying session and finishing P6 in the race. This was his strongest result at Red Bull and notably ahead of Lando Norris.
• Future Outlook: While Isack Hadjar is reportedly a strong contender for a Red Bull Racing seat in 2026, Tsunoda's performance in the upcoming weeks remains critical. Helmut Marko has indicated the Mexican Grand Prix as a potential reference point for evaluating drivers.
• Laurent Mekies' Impact: Tsunoda highlights Mekies' arrival as a key factor. Mekies, who knows Tsunoda from their time at Racing Bulls, has actively guided him to revert to set-ups that were successful in his previous team.
  • Familiar Set-ups: Tsunoda explained that the set-ups he's now trying are similar to those he used "at almost every race at VCARB," which he had "kind of forgot about" after joining the main Red Bull team.
  • Engineering Translation: Mekies, with his technical background, can effectively translate Tsunoda's feedback to the engineering team, helping them implement familiar car characteristics.
• Improved Confidence: Tsunoda noted that the car now feels "much more familiar," leading to increased confidence and a better understanding of the vehicle.

Between the lines:

This partnership underscores the significant role a team principal with a strong technical background can play. Mekies' ability to connect driver feel with engineering solutions differentiates him from predecessors and directly benefits Tsunoda. It also suggests that even experienced F1 drivers might need external guidance to fully optimize their performance, particularly when transitioning between teams or car philosophies.

What's next:

Tsunoda aims to build on this momentum, starting with the Singapore Grand Prix. His improved confidence and understanding of the car are expected to translate into more consistent performances, which will be closely monitored by Red Bull management as they assess their driver lineup for the coming seasons. If he can maintain this upward trajectory, it significantly strengthens his case for a prominent F1 seat beyond the current season, potentially altering Red Bull's long-term driver plans.