What happened: Red Bull believes recent progress has narrowed its deficit to Mercedes but says further improvements are required to contend regularly. Its Austrian Grand Prix pace produced a close second-place finish after challenging Mercedes during the first half.

Why it matters: The result indicates Red Bull can threaten at selected races without yet sustaining a championship-level challenge. Mercedes remains the benchmark for consistent victories as the season continues.

What to watch: Red Bull's performance at the next races will show whether its Austria pace carries across different circuits. Further upgrades could determine whether the gap to Mercedes keeps shrinking.