Red Bull Racing has pinpointed two main areas for improvement following Max Verstappen’s strong showing in the practice sessions at the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin. While Verstappen secured second and third places in Friday’s sessions, the team recognizes challenges in low-speed corners and the car’s response to the bumpy Circuit of the Americas.
Verstappen’s lap times were consistently close to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who set the pace in both sessions, with less than two-tenths of a second separating them. Despite Red Bull’s competitiveness in the high-speed sections of the track, the team’s technical director, Pierre Waché, highlighted that the car is not yet as effective in slower corners compared to Ferrari’s performance. Additionally, the RB22’s handling over the circuit’s notorious bumps remains a concern.
The Circuit of the Americas is known for its uneven surface, especially at Turn 1 under heavy braking, which poses a significant challenge for car setup and driver control. Verstappen described the bumps as “unacceptable” and “out of control,” emphasizing the difficulty they cause during crucial parts of the lap. The current car setup aims to balance stiffness and compliance, but the RB22 leans towards a stiffer configuration that struggles to absorb the track’s irregularities effectively.
Another technical factor influencing the car’s behaviour is the use of active aerodynamics and straight-line mode, which cause the car to rise slightly on straights. However, the ride height remains low during braking and cornering, where the bumps are most severe. This combination makes it harder for the car to maintain stability and grip in the slower sections of the track.
Red Bull’s focus ahead of qualifying is to improve the RB22’s performance in low-speed corners and enhance its ability to handle the bumps more effectively. These adjustments aim to close the gap to Ferrari in these specific areas while maintaining competitiveness in the faster parts of the circuit.
Verstappen’s promising start to the weekend suggests that Red Bull remains a strong contender, but the team’s acknowledgment of these challenges underlines the ongoing development efforts required to optimise performance at the Circuit of the Americas. The technical insights from Pierre Waché and Verstappen’s feedback provide a clear direction for the team’s preparations as the weekend progresses.