Max Verstappen has identified the core philosophy of the Red Bull RB22 as a critical area for improvement. He believes significant lap time is being lost due to the car’s poor handling over bumps and kerbs, an issue that has persisted throughout the 2026 season.
The driver has been vocal about the car’s difficult characteristics. He has previously described the RB22 as ‘undriveable’ and stated that extracting performance requires a harsh ride. This weakness becomes particularly prominent on circuits with uneven surfaces or aggressive kerbs.
Verstappen has clarified the specific trade-off the team is struggling with. It involves the balance between mechanical setup for riding bumps and maintaining optimal aerodynamic downforce. He suggests the current approach is not working effectively across different types of circuits.
Anywhere that it’s bumpy is going to be difficult for us. That has to do with the philosophy of our car at the moment, how you set it up to take the bumps versus the amount of downforce. It’s not quite optimal yet.
The issue came to a head during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend in July. Verstappen reported the car felt ‘completely broken aerodynamically’ during qualifying. He complained of a bad balance and a general lack of grip, which made the car unpredictable.
His feedback aligns with comments from Red Bull’s technical department. Technical Director Pierre Waché has admitted the team has ‘no confidence’ in the car. He noted that a ‘different problem’ seems to emerge each time the car is on track, indicating a fundamental instability.
Team Principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the struggles, stating they have not consistently provided Verstappen with a car he can ‘really push with’. Mekies confirmed the RB22 is extremely sensitive to variables like kerb strikes or changes in conditions.
Despite the ongoing problems, Mekies remains confident that the issues can be resolved within the current season. The team is focused on finding a solution that improves the ride quality without compromising the car’s overall aerodynamic performance, which is key to unlocking more pace.
