Racing Bulls Adapt to Driver Changes as Team Aims for Midfield Success
Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies views the loss of Yuki Tsunoda to Red Bull as a success for the squad, reflecting on the dual objectives of enhancing team competitiveness while developing drivers for the senior team. Despite facing challenges from a fluctuating driver lineup, Mekies asserts that the team’s "super ambitious targets" are being met, as Racing Bulls competes closely with Williams, Haas, Alpine, and Aston Martin in the tightly contested midfield.
Over the first races of the 2025 season, strategic miscalculations have cost Racing Bulls valuable points. Nevertheless, the team has demonstrated a strong car capable of consistently contending for points. Following the departure of Liam Lawson, who was positioned at Red Bull, Tsunoda’s promotion highlights Racing Bulls’ role in the Red Bull driver development pathway.
"Our main objective is competitiveness. Our second objective is to train drivers for Red Bull," Mekies stated in a recent interview on the James Allen on F1 podcast. "If our drivers are performing well enough to attract attention, it’s a success." Mekies expressed pride in Tsunoda’s growth and the opportunity now available to him at Red Bull, noting, "Yuki has grown incredibly in the last year and a half."
In Tsunoda’s absence, Lawson has returned to the squad yet again, facing stiff competition from recent graduate Isack Hadjar, who finished as the runner-up in Formula 2. Acknowledging the pressure, Lawson qualified ahead of Hadjar at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but continues to work on maintaining pace over race distances.
Mekies remains optimistic about Lawson’s potential, citing his recent performances as evidence of continued growth: "He was only half a tenth from Q3 in Jeddah. We are confident he will return to the form he exhibited last year."
As Racing Bulls strives to solidify its position in the midfield, the team’s ability to adapt to driver changes will be crucial in fulfilling its performance targets this season.
