Laurent Mekies

And the only thing we are looking at is gap to first place, which is substantial now.

But we are all pointing towards looking at what we need to do to close that gap.

So it's not one area.

As you said, we have pushed very late on the chassis development last year.

So yes, we pay a price in the initial phase of the seasons.

The engine project is super new.

The guys and the girls have done an unbelievable job.

But of course, we accept that competition is at a better level right now.

And it's going to be a learning race, 2026.

And it's going to be a development race.

And it's two races that we embrace and we are diving into.

Let me put it this way.

Seeing the car exiting the garage in Barcelona, first pre-season test day, without any shakedown.

We are one of the few teams, if not the only one, not to have shakedown before Barcelona.

Seeing that car getting out at 9.00 in the morning and doing 100 laps on that first day, I think...

was an incredible reward for the work that everyone has been doing in Milton Keynes, days and night, weekends.

It's been a very, very intense last few months.

It's been very intense last three or four years.

Certainly the last few months, I can guarantee you that they were very far from a comfort zone and a lot of extra efforts from everyone, from the family to support also there.

their partner in longer hours at work and to see that cars going out and to see that suddenly we only talk about performance and we only talk about chasing those three teams that are faster than us right now is an incredible achievement.