Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified a distant seventh at Silverstone, a stark contrast to his second‑place finish in Austria.
Silverstone Skepticism
During Friday’s session, the Dutchman admitted the RB22 was outpaced, pushing his best lap down the grid. “We’re not very good on those tracks, when it’s like that,” Verstappen said, highlighting the Red Bull cars’ difficulty handling the circuit’s high‑speed bumpy layout. He also cited a power‑unit hiccup that hampered the car’s speed and overall pace.
When asked after the Austrian Grand‑Prix whether the championship fight could still be revived, Verstappen replied simply, “They shouldn’t ask me that question anymore.” His tone at the Silverstone paddock mirrored the frustration that now pervades the team’s approach to the season.
Energy Constraints and Future Tracks
Verstappen warned that the 2026 season will feature “energy‑starved circuits” where power‑management dictates race outcomes. “When it’s like that, we’re not very good on those tracks,” he explained. He singled out Spa and Monza as forthcoming challenges, noting that the balance of the RB22 remains problematic.\
The driver also reflected on Red Bull’s limited upgrade path due to the cost cap. “Because of that, you can’t keep bringing a lot of upgrades to the car,” he added, pointing to the series’ stricter financial restraints compared to last year’s revival that almost secured a title.
Misfortune in 2026
Beyond performance woes, Verstappen registered a string of bad luck: a rear‑wing failure in Austria that caused a Q3 crash; a crash in Australia he could not explain; a power‑unit issue forced retirement in Monaco after starting second. He compared the series of setbacks to “hitting a black cat,” stressing he isn’t superstitious yet remains surprised by the discomfort.
Verstappen’s comments underline a season where strategic limitations, technical setbacks, and the cap on ongoing development converge. The race‑by‑race evaluation will tell if Red Bull can adapt before the next energy‑sensitive track arrives.
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