Red Bull Acknowledges 'Price to Pay' for Continued RB21 Development Amid 2026 Focus

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has conceded there will be a "price to pay" for the team's ongoing decision to develop its current RB21 challenger, even as rival teams shift their primary focus to the 2026 technical regulations. Despite the significant rule changes looming, Red Bull believes the late-season upgrades will provide a net gain and validate approaches beneficial for their future car designs.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's strategy stands in contrast to many competitors who are already pouring resources into their 2026 cars, which will feature entirely new chassis and power unit regulations. This decision highlights the team's dual ambition: to challenge for the drivers' championship this year, with Max Verstappen currently 36 points behind Lando Norris, while also laying groundwork for future success, albeit with an acknowledged short-term cost.

The Details:

• Continued Development: Red Bull is still applying upgrades to the RB21, a rare move this late in a regulation cycle, especially with a major rule overhaul on the horizon.
• Long-Term Benefits: Mekies clarified that while the new parts have no direct impact on the 2026 car, the development process itself helps validate their design approaches. This knowledge gain is expected to be invaluable for the new-era car.
• Strategic Choice: "We are doing it this way because we think for us, let alone the other guys, we think for us it's a net gain," Mekies stated. He emphasized that the team wouldn't pursue this path if they believed it would compromise their 2026 preparations.
• Acknowledged Risk: Mekies openly admitted that there is a "price to pay" for this strategy, indicating a potential trade-off in resources or focus. However, he believes the cost is "reasonable" and "worth it."
• Recent Performance Puzzle: Red Bull's decision comes amidst a puzzling dip in form at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen finished third after winning three of the previous four races. Mekies expressed confusion over why the team couldn't challenge for victory.
  • When asked if cooling issues were a factor, Mekies replied, "We don't know, there is nothing that points towards that right now. It remains a fact that we were less competitive. Understanding why is key to make sure we address that for Brazil and the next races."

What's next:

Red Bull's commitment to current car development will continue to be a talking point as the season progresses. The team will need to quickly diagnose and rectify their performance dip from Mexico while simultaneously ensuring their 2026 preparations are not unduly hampered. The success of this dual-focus approach will be judged by both their performance in the remaining races of this season and their competitiveness when the new regulations kick in.