Red Bull Racing has identified the root cause of the persistent performance issues that have affected Max Verstappen’s 2026 season. The team has been grappling with what Verstappen has termed ‘car degradation’, an issue separate from normal tyre wear.
The problem manifests as a decline in car performance throughout a race weekend and even during individual sessions. Verstappen has been vocal about his frustrations, describing the RB22 as ‘a car made of paper’ after qualifying at Monza.
Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the existence of this ‘complex’ issue, acknowledging that Verstappen’s complaints are centered on a very real problem. The team has been actively working to understand and resolve the situation for some time.
According to Mekies, the issue is not a new one, and while the team is making progress in understanding it, a complete solution will not be implemented this season. The budget cap limits the extent of in-season changes, pushing the focus towards significant alterations for the 2027 car.
The handling of the RB22 has been visibly problematic, with a notable lack of rear-end stability, particularly in high-speed corners. This has forced Verstappen to make constant steering corrections and has led to excessive tyre wear in some races.
The situation has been a source of frustration for both Max and his father, Jos Verstappen. Earlier in the year, Jos Verstappen noted his son’s waning motivation due to the nature of the 2026 cars, which he feels do not reward driver talent sufficiently.
Jos Verstappen also stated that Max had raised concerns about the car’s balance early in the season, which he felt were not initially given enough attention by the team. He believes his son’s predictions about the challenges of the new regulations are now being proven correct.
Despite the ongoing struggles, which have included reliability problems and a lack of outright pace compared to rivals, the team has made progress. A series of upgrades and a better understanding of the new power unit have brought Red Bull back into contention for podiums.
This culminated in Verstappen securing his and the team’s first victory of the 2026 season at the recent Grand Prix at Sepang. After the race, Verstappen acknowledged the team’s difficult start to the year but called the victory ‘very special’.
While the fundamental ‘car degradation’ issue will be carried over into 2027, the team believes it has made positive steps in mitigating its effects for the remainder of the current season.
