Mekies after qualifying Madrid: 'Max delivered another exceptional performance'

Published on 12 September 2026 by Niels Hendrix

Laurent Mekies, CEO and team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said after qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix: “A really strong result for the whole team today on such a challenging track, especially with the gaps at the front being so incredibly tight. Max was at the top of his game as always. He was competitive throughout qualifying, fastest in Q2 by just a few hundredths and right in the fight for pole until the very last moment. Naturally, there is some disappointment when you miss out on the front row by such a small margin, but Max delivered another exceptional performance.”

Mekies continued: “This is an extremely demanding circuit, with a combination of low-speed and high-speed corners, aggressive kerbs and walls that leave very little room for error. To see both drivers able to push with confidence in these conditions is a good indication of the progress with the underlying pace of the car and a deserved reward for all the hard work from everyone back in Milton Keynes.”

Mekies added: “Tomorrow presents a different challenge. The gap between the top four teams is extremely small, so hopefully we can be right in the fight once again. Strategy will play an important role, particularly depending on how difficult overtaking proves to be, and we will need to stay flexible in what could be an unpredictable race. With two cars in the mix and every opportunity to be in the podium fight, we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve Sunday.”