Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur and Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies engaged in a discussion following the qualifying session for the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. The conversation occurred on Saturday, August 22, 2026, after the session that determined the grid for Sunday’s main race. Vasseur referenced their proximity in the paddock, stating, ‘Since we are neighbours.’
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix, with George Russell having taken pole for the Sprint race during Friday’s qualifying. Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc qualified fifth and sixth respectively for the Grand Prix.
Vasseur expressed dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s qualifying performance. He noted that securing fifth and sixth positions was not the team’s objective. However, he highlighted that Ferrari retained a fresh set of Soft tyres for Sunday’s race, which could offer a strategic advantage.
The Ferrari Team Principal also indicated that the team’s race pace had been strong during earlier sessions. He acknowledged the Scuderia’s ongoing struggle to extract optimal one-lap speed from the SF-26 chassis, a pattern observed throughout the 2026 season.
Mekies, commenting on Red Bull Racing’s performance, stated that the team had faced challenges with one-lap speed at Zandvoort since Friday. He noted that Red Bull was over half a second off the pace in Sprint Qualifying.
Despite improvements, Mekies confirmed the team’s pace was insufficient to be truly competitive in qualifying. Max Verstappen, the home favourite, will start the Sprint race from sixth position.
The relationship between Vasseur and Mekies is long-standing. Vasseur previously served as Mekies’ team principal at Ferrari before Mekies’ departure. Mekies transitioned to Racing Bulls as Team Principal in 2024, a role he held until moving to Oracle Red Bull Racing midway through the 2025 season.
Vasseur had publicly supported Mekies’ move to AlphaTauri, calling it a ‘mega opportunity’ and confirming their 30-year acquaintance. While there was initial tension regarding the timing of AlphaTauri’s announcement in 2024, Vasseur maintained he would not block Mekies’ career progression.
Ferrari currently holds second place in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship. The team has been focusing significant resources on the development of their 2026 challenger, having made an early decision to shift focus from the 2025 season.
Oracle Red Bull Racing has undergone recent driver changes for the Dutch Grand Prix. Liam Lawson has stepped in to replace the injured Isack Hadjar. Yuki Tsunoda, in turn, has taken Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls for this event.
The Dutch Grand Prix weekend continues with the Sprint race and the main Grand Prix on Sunday. The qualifying results set the stage for a competitive race at the Circuit Zandvoort.
