Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Wache has confirmed that Max Verstappen has “no confidence” in the team’s RB22 car. The admission comes as the team continues to struggle in the 2026 season, a year in which they have yet to secure a Grand Prix victory.
Verstappen has managed four podium finishes this season, including second place at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break. However, his frustration with the car’s performance has been evident throughout the year. A recurring and significant issue has been the failure of the rear wing’s active aero flap to close correctly.
This specific mechanical fault has led to several high-speed spins and crashes for Verstappen, notably during qualifying in Austria and again at Silverstone. The driver has labelled the issue as “super dangerous”. These incidents have significantly impacted his ability to trust the car’s stability in high-speed corners.
Following qualifying in Hungary, Verstappen expressed deep concerns about the car’s behaviour. He noted that the car itself seemed to degrade throughout the session, making it progressively more difficult to complete a competitive lap. It was a problem he stated was not new for this season.
“Instead of the tyres degrading, the car is degrading, then you have a big problem. The car just kept getting worse and worse, lap after lap.”
Wache acknowledged the ongoing feedback from both Verstappen and his teammate Isack Hadjar. He stated that the team is discovering new problems with the car every time it is on track. This unpredictability has led to the team’s current lack of confidence in their own machinery.
“With this new car, you see a different problem every time you go to the track, when you put the car on the ground,” Wache explained. “We try to maximise it, but no confidence.”
The 2026 season has seen Mercedes dominate, while both Ferrari and McLaren have also secured victories. Red Bull, currently fourth in the Constructors’ Standings, has been unable to match this progress. Early season reports also suggested the RB22 was overweight, potentially costing crucial lap time.
Wache noted that while the team has made progress since the start of the year, they are not where they want to be. “I think the main aspect is that we started behind and, for sure, we have progressed,” he said. “We still aren’t where we would like to be.”
The ongoing performance issues come at a critical time, with Verstappen’s contract situation for the 2027 season yet to be firmly confirmed. The team’s ability to resolve the RB22’s fundamental problems will be key to retaining its lead driver.
