Red Bull dismiss 'team to beat' label by rivals

Red Bull Racing has responded to claims from rivals that they have re-established themselves as the dominant team in Formula 1 for the remainder of the 2026 season. Max Verstappen recently secured consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore, following a second-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading some drivers to assert that Red Bull is currently the team to beat.

Despite the positive results, Red Bull's team principal Laurent Mekies expressed caution regarding the team's performance, highlighting the fluctuating nature of competitiveness throughout the season. He acknowledged the team's recent pace but noted that they have completed their upgrade programme, suggesting that the competitive landscape could shift if rival teams introduce new upgrades.