RB Formula 1 boss Laurent Mekies has revealed that the team will introduce upgrades at the Miami Grand Prix as it strives to remain ahead of Haas in the standings.
The nascent stages of this campaign have seen a bigger chasm develop between the leading five teams from last season and the quintet beneath them in the order.
RB is at the head of that respective queue with seven points from the opening five races, but a resurgent Haas seized a point in China to reduce the gap to two points.
The Faenza-based squad endured a double retirement in Shanghai, which opened the door for Nico Hulkenberg to capitalise to bag the 10th place that was available.
With the German also logging a top-10 starting berth as Haas introduced developments to its VF-24 car last time out, Mekies has confirmed RB will respond in Miami.
“We’ll have an update in Miami to help us try to keep surfing on the top of that very edge,” Mekies told Autosport.
“There is nothing guaranteed in this group. I’m sure our competitors will bring updates as well and only if you nail the weekend will you get to that P10.”
Yuki Tsunoda achieving three consecutive Q3 appearances and back-to-back points – including seventh in Australia – had heightened claims RB is the sixth-best team.
However, Mekies has denied that the Italian outfit ever considered that and has noted how the close fight at the bottom has inspired the operation to chase perfection.
“We have never been confident that we have the quickest car of the five [teams at the back],” Mekies addressed.
“We got it there by half a tenth in Australia, half a tenth in Japan and we missed it by a 10th and a half in China.
“In the race, we were probably equal, or if not half a tenth ahead. So we have never had any confidence. It’s a battle every time.
“But it’s a fantastic exercise for everyone. It’s superb training for the team to execute sharp weekends, and you need a strong race from every perspective.
“It’s only by doing that you will get a point. As soon as one of these elements, be it tyre management, strategy, or anything, falls off the cliff, you will give up that point.”
