The Red Bull Racing team is facing an atypical period in Formula 1 in 2026, being the only one among the four majors that has not yet secured a victory in Grand Prix, according to an assessment made on August 11, 2026. Despite the five podiums achieved by Max Verstappen, the driver did not reach first place, highlighting the difficulties with the car’s balance and aerodynamic restrictions. This shows a significant change in the competitive landscape compared to the team’s previous successful seasons.
The four-time champion expressed that the period “was very difficult”, even with the presence of positive moments and performances with potential. For him, the general outlook points to a challenging season so far. The driver emphasized the need for the team to achieve greater consistency and strengthen itself on all fronts, seeking smoother driving in racing events.
Currently in sixth place in the drivers’ championship, with 109 points, Max Verstappen has a deficit of 110 points in relation to leader Kimi Antonelli. The Dutch driver detailed the actions that, in his view, are essential for the Austrian team to progress in the final stretch of the competition.
More on this story: F1: Max Verstappen secures third place in the British GP sprint, but rules out fight for victory
Verstappen explained that the main goal is to increase the car’s overall performance and then address existing faults. He noted that the team often loses performance during race weekends, or even from the beginning to the end of a race. The pilot highlighted that, in addition to seeking greater performance, it is essential to prevent these difficulties from appearing with the component package already in use.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies made a strategic statement after the Hungarian Grand Prix. He indicated that, soon, the team will need to make a decision on how to distribute its development resources between the current car and the 2027 model. This statement suggests a possible anticipation of the change of focus to the single-seater next season.
Mekies revealed the expectation that this transition to the 2027 car will occur earlier compared to the previous year, mainly due to the characteristics of the future regulations. He stated that the team will make a careful assessment, but highlighted the effort already invested, with numerous updates implemented from the start of the championship until the race in Hungary, aimed at correcting the considerable initial performance deficit.
Concluding his statements, the Red Bull boss acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining the current pace, but emphasized the need for a detailed analysis to define the best strategy for the remaining stages of the Formula 1 season.