Formula 1 team Red Bull is in crisis after great years with Max Verstappen. Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos believes that the new team boss Laurent Mekies will not solve the problems alone.
“A single man will not change anything,” said Doornbos in an interview with “Motorsport.com Netherlands” about the exchange of team boss Christian Horner to Mekies to Mekies before the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in Formula 1 at the end of August.
According to his statement, the changed technical team plays a role.
The Dutch referred to the changes in the personnel at Red Bull. Designer Adrian Newey moved to Aston Martin, sports director Jonathan Wheatley to Audi and chief designer Rob Marshall in McLaren. After two decades, Horner last had to go.
Doornbos commented: “Such key people cannot be easily replaced. I therefore do not think that Red Bull will return to the top so quickly. It has to start and rebuild – and wait and see how the new rules develop.”
The 43-year-old asked Mekies to act: “He has to make some changes within the team, because as before it just can’t go on.”
Red Bull in the Bredouille – McLaren “At the climax”
After a good start to the season with the placements 2, 4, 1, 4, 10 and 2, Red Bull and Verstappen follow their expectations.
Most recently, the Dutch pilot only landed in ranks 18, 5, 4 and 9 before the summer break.
Doornbos sees the situation at McLaren quite differently. The British team leads to a large distance, Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri duel around the World Cup title.
The Dutch summarized: “They are at the peak. McLaren rides on a fantastic wave of success: the team provides the fastest pit stops for both drivers, the car is competitive and the drivers are incredibly balanced. This is not the case with Red Bull.”