Max Verstappen has described the current situation at Red Bull Racing as ‘strange’ and ‘not logically explainable’. The four-time world champion’s comments reflect ongoing challenges for the team during the 2026 Formula 1 season. Red Bull has faced significant performance issues with its RB22 chassis since the championship began.
The car has exhibited persistent balance problems, including severe understeer in slow and medium-speed corners. Drivers have also reported considerable oversteer out of slow corners, leading to substantial time loss. Verstappen previously stated the car felt ‘undriveable’ and that setup changes made ‘zero difference’.
Early in the season, the RB22 was reportedly overweight, contributing to a performance deficit of approximately two tenths per lap. This weight issue has complicated efforts to optimize the car’s balance and tyre management.
More recently, Verstappen experienced ‘super dangerous’ high-speed incidents in Austria and Britain. These crashes were attributed to an airflow reattachment issue with Red Bull’s updated rear wing, which utilizes the new active aero system for 2026.
Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché confirmed a mechanical problem with the ‘Macarena’ rear wing. The team reverted to a previous-spec rear wing for the Belgian Grand Prix. A mechanical fix is expected to be ready for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix.
Beyond car-specific issues, Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the 2026 power unit regulations. He stated he ‘could already see coming for years’ the problems associated with the increased emphasis on energy management.
Verstappen believes these regulations have ‘neutered’ many corners, diminishing a driver’s ability to make a significant difference. He noted that gaining time in a corner can paradoxically lead to losing speed on the subsequent straight.
‘The overtake sometimes is done in the middle of the straight, it’s a bit odd. The problem is, of course, that real racing fans understand. The non-racing fans think it’s cool because you just see more overtakes, but it’s not real. It’s not what racing is about.’
Adding to the team’s frustrations, the FIA ruled Red Bull possessed the best power unit when the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) window opened in June. This decision prevented Red Bull from introducing power unit upgrades.
This ruling occurred despite Mercedes having won six Grands Prix by that point in the 2026 season. The situation has left Verstappen questioning the logic behind certain aspects of the current Formula 1 landscape.
