The RB Formula 1 team is gearing up for the Miami Grand Prix with a new upgrade that aims to maintain their lead in the heated midfield competition. With a tight battle against Haas and other teams in the mid-tier, every point counts, and RB’s latest development could help them keep “surfing on the top” of the midfield.
Team boss Laurent Mekies explained that the update is crucial for RB’s ongoing battle with Haas and other teams fighting for the points just outside the top spots.
“We’ll have an update in Miami to help us try to keep surfing on the top of that very edge,” said Mekies to Motorsport.com. His comment highlights the fierce competition in the middle of the pack, where even the smallest improvements can make a big difference in the standings.
Currently, RB leads the midfield battle with seven points, ahead of Haas, which has five. However, a double DNF in China was a setback that stopped RB from widening the gap as Ricciardo and Tsunoda got taken out of the race by Stroll and Magnussen respectively.
Given how tight the margins are, Mekies noted that “there is nothing guaranteed in this group,” indicating that every race is crucial to maintain their advantage.
“I’m sure our competitors will bring updates as well and only if you nail the weekend will you get to that P10,” the boss of the Faenza-based team added.
Despite RB’s success so far this season, Mekies emphasized that the competition is so tight that it’s hard to declare any clear advantage. “We have never been confident that we have the quickest car of the five [teams at the back],” he said. The team boss further explained that they have seen very small margins determining success, “We got it there by half a tenth in Australia, half a tenth in Japan, and we missed it by a tenth and a half in China. In the race, we were probably equal, or if not half a tenth ahead.”
Mekies highlighted that in such a tight battle, perfection is the key to scoring points. “It’s a fantastic exercise for everyone. It’s superb training for the team to execute sharp weekends,” he noted.
“It’s only by doing that you will get a point. As soon as one of these elements, be it tyre management, strategy, or anything, falls off the cliff, you will give up that point.”
