Pink Bull Racing CEO and staff principal Laurent Mekies has mentioned how the staff works to guard its drivers and employees from the psychological influence of their roles, particularly after demotions to the sister squad.
The Milton Keynes outfit has struggled for a while to discover a long-term driver for its second seat alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen. Liam Lawson changed Sergio Perez for the 2025 season however discovered himself demoted to Racing Bulls after simply two race weekends, with Yuki Tsunoda taking his place at Pink Bull forward of the Japanese Grand Prix.Â
Now, Tsunoda has moved to a reserve position for the 2026 season, with Isack Hadjar taking the coveted place alongside Verstappen.
Mekies was main Racing Bulls on the time of Lawson’s demotion, so he noticed the psychological influence of the transfer firsthand.
“Properly, we’re nicely conscious that the psychological impact is big,” he defined on the Autosport Enterprise Alternate London.
“However not only for these conditions a couple of second automobile, only for any very high-level athletes. That final little bit of efficiency is intimately linked to how you’re feeling, how you might be supported and what’s in your thoughts.
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Staff, Laurent Mekies, Alpine
Picture by: Mark Thompson – Getty Photos
“So we’re actually attempting to assist each our drivers with one of the best surroundings potential for them to specific their expertise. Nevertheless it’s the identical spirit that you just attempt to have for any of our workers.
“In the identical manner that you have to create the surroundings for the drivers to specific themselves and go quick, you have to create the surroundings on your engineers, on your mechanics, on your employees, to specific their potential, their expertise at greatest. So it’s the identical once more.”
After finishing his rookie Components 1 season at Racing Bulls, Hadjar secured a full-time seat at Pink Bull. Whereas the historical past of the seat could possibly be daunting, he has the good thing about becoming a member of on the flip of the rules within the championship, which ought to make it extra even.
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