Former Formula 1 driver Christijan Albers has commended Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies for his management of the São Paulo Grand Prix. Albers highlighted a significant operational difference between Red Bull and Ferrari, criticising the latter’s strategic approach.
Mekies had stated that Max Verstappen should have returned a position to teammate Isack Hadjar if Hadjar had maintained proximity to the four-time world champion. This comment followed an incident where Hadjar allowed Verstappen to pass earlier in the race at the team’s request.
Journalist Erik van Haren, however, questioned whether such a directive would have been genuinely implemented. Albers viewed Mekies’ statement as a demonstration of Red Bull’s superior organisation.
At the São Paulo Grand Prix, Max Verstappen started 21st on the grid due to an unplanned power unit component change. He executed a remarkable recovery drive to finish second behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Verstappen reported severe oversteer in high-speed corners after switching to slick tyres, suspecting an aerodynamic issue or component failure. He stated he drove approximately 85 percent of the race with a compromised car.
Mekies praised Verstappen’s performance, noting that no simulation could have predicted his climb from 21st to second. He acknowledged McLaren’s outright pace advantage over Red Bull during the event.
Isack Hadjar, Verstappen’s teammate since the start of the 2026 season, secured a third-place finish in São Paulo. Mekies considered this Hadjar’s best race with the team, citing his pure pace and intelligent driving.
Albers contrasted Red Bull’s and Mercedes’ organised strategies with Ferrari’s methods. He explained that Red Bull proactively separates its drivers during pit stops to avoid difficult on-track situations.
Mercedes employs a similar strategy, as observed with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. This structured approach ensures optimal race management and minimises internal conflicts.
Ferrari, conversely, has faced consistent strategic challenges throughout the 2026 season. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have repeatedly questioned team decisions regarding strategy and pit stop timing.
At the São Paulo Grand Prix, Ferrari’s SF-26 car struggled with tyre temperatures, and strategic errors compounded their difficulties. Hamilton notably ignored a pit wall instruction to switch to intermediate tyres.
This decision, while initially costly, did not transform the overall pace of the SF-26. Leclerc also encountered issues bringing the C5 Soft compound into its optimal operating window.
Ferrari’s strategic problems are not isolated incidents, reflecting a philosophical approach that prioritises theoretical optimums over practical race management. The team has not achieved a podium finish since the Belgian Grand Prix in July 2026.
In other championship news, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already secured the 2026 Drivers’ World Championship. Mercedes also clinched the Constructors’ Championship at the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff is now considering implementing team orders to assist George Russell in securing second place in the Drivers’ Championship. Russell currently sits third, 17 points behind Max Verstappen.
‘You see it at Red Bull and you see it at Mercedes. They just organise it perfectly. And that’s the difference with Ferrari. They really make an incredible mess of it. It can’t get any worse,’ stated Albers.
