Juan Pablo Montoya declared that Red Bull Racing is poised to make a decisive comeback at the Austrian Grand Prix after confirming the team’s progress in shedding excess weight.
Weight targets and tyre performance
Montoya highlighted Laurent Mekies’ programme to bring the chassis down to the legal limit before the June 26‑28 race, noting that the Österreichring is notoriously unforgiving to overweight cars. He praised both Red Bull cars for managing tyre temperatures effectively, despite drivers’ complaints about cooling‑down grip loss that can leave a corner without traction.
Drivers’ early‑lap gains
Isack Hadjar, recently promoted to Red Bull, demonstrated the advantage of a lighter setup by trimming nearly two seconds off Kimi Räikkönen’s lap time after a pit stop. Liam Lawson echoed the sentiment, observing that the tyres, while not overheating, struggled to maintain optimal grip. Montoya stressed that Max Verstappen’s defensive drive in Montreal showcased the car’s underlying pace once the weight penalty is removed.
Veteran perspectives on Montreal conditions
Co‑host Jacques Villeneuve, 1997 champion, warned that the unusually cold weather in Canada distorted Red Bull’s performance, describing the track as “not a natural racing weekend.” He suggested that a stiffer chassis caused bouncing, which could improve marginally as fuel load increased, but cautioned that higher temperatures will reveal the true effectiveness of the weight reduction.
If the Austrian circuit validates Red Bull’s weight‑optimisation, the team may well shift from a rebuilding phase to genuine championship contention.
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