Red Bull Predicts 'Second Season Launch' at Miami Grand Prix

The unexpected break in the 2026 F1 calendar has allowed teams to bring significant upgrades to their cars for the Miami race.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:51am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a Formula 1 race car broken down into fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the dynamic motion and energy of the sport.Red Bull's development push ahead of the Miami Grand Prix could reshape the 2026 Formula 1 season.Today in Miami

The upcoming Miami Grand Prix is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Red Bull's team principal, Laurent Mekies, predicting a 'second season launch' due to the rapid development expected across all teams. This unexpected gap in the calendar, caused by the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, has created an intense period of work for the teams, who are now racing to bring significant upgrades to their cars for the Miami race.

Why it matters

The Miami Grand Prix will serve as a reset button for the season, with every team expected to unveil significant car modifications. This 'second season launch' will provide a fresh starting point and offer early indications of each team's potential for the rest of the year, which is particularly important for Red Bull as they look to close the performance gap to the leading Mercedes team.

The details

Red Bull currently faces a one-second deficit per lap to the leading Mercedes team, but Mekies sees this break as an opportunity for his team to regroup and analyze their data more thoroughly. With the new regulations and a fresh power unit, Red Bull aims to alter their development path and close the gap quickly. Mekies acknowledges the fierce competition and the need to ensure their upgrades have a greater impact than their rivals'.

  • The upcoming Miami Grand Prix will take place in April 2026.

The players

Laurent Mekies

The team principal of the Red Bull Formula 1 team.

Mercedes

The leading Formula 1 team that currently holds a one-second per lap advantage over Red Bull.

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What they’re saying

“It's an opportunity to regroup and assess our situation. We're currently in fourth place, so we need to understand the root causes of our performance gap and adjust our strategy accordingly. The competition is fierce, and we must ensure our upgrades have a greater impact than those of our rivals.”

— Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Team Principal

What’s next

The teams will continue to work on their car upgrades leading up to the Miami Grand Prix, with the race serving as a crucial test of their development progress and a potential turning point in the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The takeaway

The unexpected break in the 2026 Formula 1 calendar has created an intense development period for the teams, with the Miami Grand Prix serving as a 'second season launch' where significant car upgrades will be unveiled. This reset provides an opportunity for Red Bull to close the performance gap to the leading Mercedes team and potentially alter the trajectory of the season.