In a recent interview, Racing Bulls Team Principal Laurent Mekies discussed key changes and behind-the-scenes adjustments that helped the squad recover from setbacks in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Despite remaining in eighth position, the team’s leadership believes that their summer struggles ultimately helped avoid complacency and drive internal improvements.
Racing Bulls, like Ferrari, faced its own struggles during the 2024 F1 season. The team introduced a new floor upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, which initially appeared promising. However, it unexpectedly slowed the car, putting Racing Bulls at a disadvantage against rival teams like Haas and Alpine. As a result, they fell to eighth in the standings, matching their performance from 2023.
The team also underwent a mid-season driver change when Liam Lawson replaced Danial Ricciardo after the Singapore Grand Prix, further adding to the shifts within the team. Despite these challenges, Racing Bulls management, including Team Principal Laurent Mekies and CEO Peter Bayer, view this difficult phase as an essential turning point for the team.
Why Racing Bulls’ Mid-Season Setback Was Crucial for Avoiding Complacency
Mekies admitted that the team’s setback during race 10 forced them to confront crucial structural and development issues. “We felt we had brought load onto the car, but it was not making the car faster,” he explained. This “necessary pain” pushed Racing Bulls to reevaluate their processes and accelerate changes that would ensure the team didn’t remain stagnant.
The team’s leadership believes that this mid-season challenge served as a wake-up call, reminding them that their current development approach needed improvement. Mekies explained that the restructuring within Racing Bulls was necessary to improve technical execution and avoid falling behind.
The team’s reorganization, similar to McLaren’s restructuring under Andrea Stella, focused on aligning the right people with the right resources, removing silos, and enhancing communication within the team. “It’s a bit of everything, honestly,” Mekies shared. “It starts with people. We’ve made a conscious effort to put our people in an environment where they can perform at their best.”
As Racing Bulls transitioned into the 2024 season, they balanced late car development from the previous year with the ongoing process of improving their internal structure. The team’s relocation from its old Bicester base to a new facility in Milton Keynes will further support this long-term vision.
Despite the summer challenges, Mekies believes Racing Bulls is now on a better trajectory. The team’s ability to overcome setbacks and improve its internal processes sets the stage for future success as they target the teams ahead in the midfield.
