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That first win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains is nothing short of massive. Laurent Mekies has opened up about Max Verstappen taking a stunning triumph at the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the very first victory for the team as a power unit manufacturer in its first season following Honda's departure.
It has been quite the climb. When the year began, Red Bull were way off the pace set by Mercedes, but relentless upgrade packages from the factory finally dragged them back to the top step. Verstappen bounced back hard after missing out on winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by just 0.196s, dominating Qualifying in Malaysia for pole position before charging past Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton to seal the deal after losing ground in the early laps.
"This is another milestone moment in the history of this team: the first victory for us as a power unit manufacturer with Red Bull Ford Powertrains in its very first season," Mekies said. He credited the relentless five-year effort from everyone in Milton Keynes and at the track.
Verstappen's race was a masterclass in chaotic circumstances, keeping total control and managing the conditions with the strongest pace on track. Mekies noted that the result proves the team's steady progress after knocking on the door several times in recent months.
Things nearly got even better on the other side of the garage. Isack Hadjar charged up from eighth place on the grid and looked threatening for a double podium before a battery issue forced him to settle for fifth. Mekies admitted to mixed feelings regarding that side of the garage, calling it frustrating when more was possible, though he acknowledged it is still a strong result before turning focus to Singapore.
