Barcelona GP a 'reality check' for Red Bull, admits Mekies

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What is F1 TV?F1 GlossaryGet involved2026 RegulationsNewsVideosBarcelona GP a 'reality check' for Red Bull, admits MekiesINSIGHT: Hamilton’s transformation from ‘useless’ to Ferrari winnerBettingHamilton turns back time with a Barcelona masterclass7 moments you might have missed at the Barcelona-Catalunya GPPlay1:582026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: The key VSC pit stop that helped seal Hamilton’s win 0:542026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: Every overtake as Hadjar goes on a charge up to P6 Alexander AlbonFernando AlonsoKimi AntonelliOliver BearmanGabriel BortoletoValtteri BottasFranco ColapintoPierre GaslyIsack HadjarLewis HamiltonNico HulkenbergLiam LawsonCharles LeclercArvid LindbladLando NorrisEsteban OconSergio PerezOscar PiastriGeorge RussellCarlos SainzLance StrollMax VerstappenAll Drivers Hall of FameTeamsChevron DropdownAlpineAston MartinAudiCadillacFerrariHaas F1 TeamMcLarenMercedesRacing BullsRed Bull RacingWilliamsAll TeamsFantasy & GamingChevron DropdownF1 Sim RacingFantasyF1 25F1 Manager 24F1 PredictF1 ClashF1 Members' AreaMenuFIA if(window.f1MobileDetection.iOSSafari) { var meta = document.createElement("meta"); meta.name = "apple-itunes-app"; meta.content = "app-id=835022598, app-argument=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/tough-barcelona-catalunya-grand-prix-a-reality-check-for-red-bull-admits-mekies.4kc1E3NIDNONq2kYg4hwBb.4kc1E3NIDNONq2kYg4hwBb"; document.head.appendChild(meta); } {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/tough-barcelona-catalunya-grand-prix-a-reality-check-for-red-bull-admits-mekies.4kc1E3NIDNONq2kYg4hwBb","url":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/tough-barcelona-catalunya-grand-prix-a-reality-check-for-red-bull-admits-mekies.4kc1E3NIDNONq2kYg4hwBb","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/tough-barcelona-catalunya-grand-prix-a-reality-check-for-red-bull-admits-mekies.4kc1E3NIDNONq2kYg4hwBb","datePublished":"2026-06-16T10:01:59.841Z","dateModified":"2026-06-16T10:01:59.841Z","headline":"Tough Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix a 'reality check' for Red Bull, admits Laurent Mekies","author":"F1","description":"Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies admits that the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was a \"reality check\" for the team, as neither Max Verstappen or Isack Hadjar troubled the leaders.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media.formula1.com/image/upload/t_16by9Centre/f_auto/q_auto/v1781427834/trackside-images/2026/F1_Grand_Prix_of_Barcelona_Catalunya/2281501301.jpg"},"isAccessibleForFree":"true","publisher":{"@type":"SportsOrganization","@id":"https://www.formula1.com#organization","name":"Formula 1","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.formula1.com/etc/designs/fom-website/social/f1-default-share.jpg","width":"480","height":"120"}}}Laurent MekiesRed Bull RacingMax VerstappenShow more tagsTough Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix a 'reality check' for Red Bull, admits MekiesRed Bull were no match for Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren in Barcelona. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies admits that the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was a "reality check" for the team, as neither Max Verstappen or Isack Hadjar troubled the leaders. Verstappen finished P4 during Sunday's 66-lap race in Spain but was aided by the late retirement of Kimi Antonelli ahead, the Dutchman eventually finishing 40 seconds behind race winner, Lewis Hamilton. The four-time World Champion said afterwards that Red Bull "need to work harder" in order to close the gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, with Mekies suggesting the team knew they would struggle in Barcelona due to the circuit's high-speed layout. "I think we were expecting that reality check in Barcelona," he said. "First track with a long straight, mid-speed, high-speed corners. It's probably the first time after China, Japan, where we come back to this sort of track. "We are expecting certainly a different performance compared to Monaco, where we could suddenly fight for pole. I think this weekend comes from progress because what we are talking about is three or four tenths from pole or three or four tenths from what you need to do to fight for the win. "That was certainly a very different picture at the beginning of the year on this sort of track. There is still a gap, no doubt, PU side, chassis side, and that's what we need to fight for next." Hadjar finished sixth having benefitted from the retirements of Antonelli and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, but the Frenchman had to recover after a bad start left him outside the top 10 on the opening lap after starting P6. Mekies admits this is another area of focus, with Red Bull having experienced bad starts throughout the season, which included Verstappen failing to launch off the line from the front row in Monaco. "We didn't get a good start. We have had a weak start so far this season," said Mekies. "It's part of year one as power unit manufacturers. We learned there is a lot of things we need to improve and to work out between chassis side and PU side. "We have a very good power unit, but it's a power unit that also has a very narrow window and there is many areas where you also make your life a little bit more difficult. So, it's part of the learning process [in] year one." Russell wary of ‘mighty impressive’ Ferrari after Barcelona P2OUR PARTNERSView allDownload the Official F1 AppScheduleDriversNewsTeamsFantasy & GamingCookie PreferencesMoreF1FacebookXInstagramYouTube© 2003-2026 Formula One World Championship Limited