Red Bull’s next priority after maiden win: maximise learning

Red Bull has finally reached the top step of the podium in 2026, but Laurent Mekies is already looking beyond the breakthrough. The team principal says the focus now is to extract as much information as possible from the car—and that may mean continuing to experiment and take risks.

The breakthrough had been a clear target. “Getting our first win was on top of the list, we said it quite a few times,” Mekies told media. “It felt very, very far away, but that was really on top of the list.”

Learning now takes priority

With the first win secured, Mekies described maximising learning as the next item on Red Bull’s agenda. He said the team would continue to test ideas and accept some risk in pursuit of more performance.

“What was second in the list, if you allow me to call it like that, was to use the next races to maximise the learnings,” he said. “We will continue to experiment, we will continue to take some risks to maximise that learning.”

That approach reflects a team that has made progress but is not yet certain how consistently it can challenge for victories. Red Bull has been in podium contention for several races, while its recent pace has brought it closer to the fight at the front.

Mekies keeps expectations measured

Singapore is next on the schedule, and Red Bull expects the circuit to suit its car better than Bahrain. Mekies is hopeful the team can remain competitive, but warned against treating the recent improvement as a guarantee of regular wins.

Mercedes, he noted, has remained in the fight for victories, while McLaren and Ferrari have each enjoyed stronger spells before falling back. Red Bull’s immediate task, therefore, is to keep developing its own package rather than assume the latest form will carry across every track.

“Will that be enough to be on every track fighting for the win, like in the last two races? Impossible to say,” Mekies said. “But the priority will be to maximise the learning with the package we have.”

Red Bull has its first win. Its next measure of progress will be whether the lessons gathered from this stronger run can help sustain a challenge beyond a handful of competitive weekends.