'We are not going to change our approach' – Mekies reflects on Red Bull's Mexico City GP result

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has stated the team is "not going to change our approach" in the final races following a podium finish in the Mexico City Grand Prix as Max Verstappen pushes for a fifth Drivers' title.

The Milton Keynes-based squad entered last Sunday's race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit on a strong run of form, Verstappen having won three of the last four Grands Prix, reducing a 104-point gap to Oscar Piastri down to just 40 in the process.

But Verstappen struggled for pace in Mexico, qualifying only fourth and eventually finishing the race third to seal an unexpected podium.

Despite being comfortably beaten by race winner and new championship leader Lando Norris, Verstappen did finish ahead of Piastri with all three drivers now covered by just 36 points with four Grands Prix left.

"We are not going to change our approach," said Mekies after a difficult weekend.

"We were not looking at the championships five races ago. We are not looking at the championships before Austin. We are not going to after Austin.

"What we look at is, yes, we don't feel 100% good about this weekend in terms of car performance. So that's where the focus goes now, already live as we speak back in Milton Keynes, tomorrow, the focus will be what we do if we come back here.

"What can we learn for Brazil? The rest, the championship is a consequence. It doesn't change anything for us, whether we are close or far.

"What can we learn for Brazil? The rest, the championship is a consequence."

Verstappen utilised a one-stop strategy and was one of only a few drivers to run the opening stint on the medium Pirelli tyre, with his charge on the softer compound putting him on the gearbox of Charles Leclerc for second in the closing laps.

A late Virtual Safety Car to retrieve Carlos Sainz's stricken Williams prevented a full attack, with Mekies conceding such moments are "part of the game", while admitting that nothing could have helped them challenge Norris.

"We are not in the same strong positions here as we have been in the last few races. There is no obvious reason why," added Mekies.

"I think the most obvious aspect is that, as you have heard several times on the radios, we couldn't give to Max a car he could push with as much as he normally does. And this has probably slowed us down a little bit. So, I think we are probably conscious of some of the elements we have left on the table.

"Would that be enough to match Lando here this weekend? Not sure. Honestly, credit to them. They have been very, very fast.

"He was untouchable this weekend. So, I would lie to you if we knew how to come back here and beat Lando. Probably not right now."