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Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has lauded McLaren's significant car upgrades, which debuted at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but also raised questions about whether this newfound performance will translate to other track types.
At the Hungaroring, Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished second behind Lando Norris, marking the first time this season that both teams secured the top two positions, outpacing Ferrari and Mercedes drivers. This result underscored the immense progress made by both teams after a challenging start to 2026, with McLaren's leap attributed to a substantial upgrade package.
The update package primarily focused on a new floor and revised aerodynamic elements at the front and rear of the MCL40. The objective was to enhance performance on high-downforce circuits, such as the tight and twisty Hungaroring.
"Yes, I think the package they brought definitely gave them a big leap forward. It's certainly impressive, and let's see how they perform on a different track," Mekies stated.
The Hungarian circuit has been a strong venue for McLaren in recent years, with double victories in 2024 and 2025, before Norris secured a third consecutive success this year. The MCL40's short wheelbase proves advantageous for the rapid changes in direction demanded by the Budapest track.
Given that the Hungaroring is a track where energy management is less critical, it served as an ideal testing ground for the new components. However, it remains to be seen if the floor, optimized for higher ride height and softer setups, will successfully adapt to low-drag, high-power tracks like Monza.
"But if I only look at Budapest and the jump they made, it's certainly quite impressive. I think this is the first race where we [Red Bull and McLaren] beat both Ferraris and both Mercedes, but I have to say McLaren did a very good job with the pace they had," the Red Bull boss commented.
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