Red Bull has confirmed that it is actively trying to solve what it has labelled as a “complex” issue on the RB22 of Max Verstappen in 2026, as the threat of a winless season looms ever closer.
Although Verstappen and Red Bull have gained momentum in recent races scoring his second consecutive podium at the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, he and the team are yet to win a race in 2026, the prospect of a championship now long gone.
Should Verstappen fail to win a race before the end of the year, it will be his first winless season in the sport since he drove for Torro Rosso in 2015.
The four-time world champion has been a vocal critic of the 2026 technical regulations, the situation not helped by the RB22’s narrow setup operating window.
The rear axle has proven to be a particular bug-bear for the Dutchman, as well as feeling his car fall apart during Hungary.
Team Principal and CEO Laurent Mekies has also alluded to a more fundamental issue with the RB22, but was coy on the nature of the problem.
“We are not going to explain what it is and how we are going to fix it,” he said to media, including Motorsport Week of Verstappen’s concerns.
“But Max is right. There is an element of car performance degradation that is happening through a session, through a race.
“He is right in saying it is not a new issue. We are not sleeping on it. We have been trying to tackle that in different ways.
“Obviously, I consider it a complex issue, otherwise, we would have got to the bottom of it.”
Red Bull making “progress in our understanding of problem”
Mekies confirmed that the team is making slow progress on the mystery issue, but managed expectations of a quick fix despite hinting a step forward in Madrid.
“Everyone is very constructive about it, trying to make small steps at a time to be able to get to the bottom of it, finally,” he said.
“We had a couple of positive steps in that regard [in Madrid]. It will never be the full picture, but we certainly have, through pain, made progress in our understanding.
“We don’t have all the solutions yet in the car, but I trust that we are on the right way. It will not be fast. It’s something that probably will take us through next year.
“I’m not really going to give any more details. As I say, it’s some aspect of the car’s performance that sometimes doesn’t stay at the optimal level.
“It’s serious lap time. There is no doubt that we have everyone trying to improve that for the future.”
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