Max Verstappen’s recent radio outbursts during the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he described his Red Bull RB22 as ‘completely ed’, have drawn public criticism from former Formula 1 driver Christijan Albers. Albers believes Verstappen should be defending his team rather than publicly criticising it, even in the heat of the moment.
Verstappen’s frustration at the Hungaroring extended beyond his car’s performance. He also branded Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad as ‘morons’ over team radio for impeding him while being lapped.
Despite starting fourth on the grid, Verstappen secured a second-place finish in Hungary, behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. Post-race, Verstappen expressed bewilderment at the result, stating he was ‘shocked’ and ‘still shocked’ at how he achieved a podium.
The four-time world champion indicated ongoing struggles, noting the car was ‘extremely oversteery’ and ‘degging quite hard’ during the race. He emphasised the need for Red Bull to find more overall performance and address issues causing performance loss over weekends or during races.
The RB22 has presented significant challenges throughout the 2026 season, failing to match the drivability and speed of its 2024 predecessor. Its performance is hampered by a narrow operating window that can be compromised by minor track condition changes or slight damage.
Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache acknowledged the car’s ‘limitations’, including issues with stability on entry and mid-corner understeer. He also noted a lack of load compared to competitors and ‘mechanical gremlins’ affecting driver feel through the steering.
Early in the season, both Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar reported a subtle steering system defect that left them without confidence in the front end. Verstappen had previously described the car as ‘completely undrivable’ in the initial rounds of the 2026 campaign.
Red Bull addressed the steering problem by replacing components in the steering rack and column. However, despite this fix and a major upgrade package introduced in Miami, the RB22 continues to exhibit inconsistent performance.
Albers, a staunch supporter of Verstappen, acknowledged the driver’s honesty but questioned its public nature. He suggested Verstappen’s intense focus on his own performance might lead him to overlook the aspirations of other drivers.
‘There are many positive sides to Max, but there are also negative sides to Max. Sometimes I watch certain interviews and wonder about them.’
Albers further commented that Adrian Newey cannot simply create a basic package from nothing, implying the team must work with the available material. He believes Verstappen could do more to defend Red Bull publicly.
The 2026 season has seen Red Bull positioned as the fourth-fastest team, struggling with significant balance issues that contribute to understeer and accelerated tyre degradation. The RB22’s issues are primarily linked to excess weight and structural chassis limitations, rather than the Ford-supported power unit.
Earlier this year, Albers had urged the FIA to intervene to prevent a potential retirement by Verstappen, citing reports that frustration over new regulations could lead him to activate an exit clause in his Red Bull contract.
