Red Bull Racing has confirmed that a persistent performance degradation issue affecting Max Verstappen’s RB22 will not be fully resolved until the car’s redesign in 2027. Despite the introduction of new technical regulations for the 2026 season, the team acknowledges that the problem, particularly around the rear axle, remains a significant challenge.
Throughout the 2026 Formula 1® season, Verstappen has reported a noticeable drop in car performance during sessions and races. One notable moment came during qualifying at Monza, where he described the RB22 as “a car made of paper,” highlighting the severity of the issue. Verstappen has reportedly raised concerns about this problem internally for several seasons, indicating it is not a new development despite the fresh car design.
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing’s team principal, has publicly acknowledged the existence of this complex degradation problem. While the team has made some progress in understanding and mitigating the issue—evidenced by improvements at the Madrid Grand Prix compared to Monza—Mekies confirmed that a complete fix cannot be achieved with the current car. The resolution will require design and chassis changes planned for the 2027 season. Budget cap restrictions and the team's focus on next year’s development limit the scope of any fixes for the remainder of 2026.
The ongoing issue primarily affects the rear axle, causing performance to degrade during qualifying sessions and races. This has limited Verstappen’s ability to extract consistent pace from the car, which is a notable concern given his status as a four-time world champion. Mekies emphasized the seriousness of the lap time loss caused by this degradation, underlining the team's commitment to addressing the problem in future car designs.
Verstappen is reportedly aware that his chances of securing race wins during the 2026 season are limited due to this issue. Should he fail to win a race, it would mark his first winless season since 2015. The team’s current approach balances managing the degradation with adhering to budget caps and prioritizing the 2027 car’s development, which is expected to incorporate the necessary changes to overcome this challenge.
While specific technical details behind the degradation have not been disclosed, Red Bull’s acknowledgment of the problem reflects the complexities teams face under the new regulations. The situation highlights how even leading teams can encounter persistent issues that require longer-term solutions beyond immediate upgrades.
Red Bull Racing’s transparency about the RB22’s limitations and the planned redesign for 2027 provides insight into the challenges of adapting to evolving Formula 1® technical frameworks. The team’s focus remains on mitigating the current issue as best as possible while preparing for a more comprehensive resolution in the next season’s car.