Only seventh in the qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, Max Verstappen admits that the significant changes made to his Red Bull have practically had no effect.
Max Verstappen certainly hoped to experience a very different last home Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The Dutchman could do no better than seventh in qualifying, his worst result on the grid since the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar.
Until now, Verstappen had indeed never qualified beyond third position at Zandvoort. This time, the four-time world champion had to bow to McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari, with Red Bull appearing as the fourth force on the grid.
Sick and suffering from flu symptoms this weekend, Verstappen never really found enough confidence behind the wheel of his RB22 to fully attack.
“These are simply the same balance problems that we encounter every weekend, explains Verstappen. We made big changes, but unfortunately, they seem to practically change nothing about the car’s behavior.”
Red Bull’s changes remain ineffective
The situation is all the more worrying as Red Bull had taken advantage of the parc fermé reopening after the Sprint to modify the RB22’s settings. Verstappen had already explained after the short race that the team had several options to try to improve the car before qualifying.
But the result was not as hoped. Despite significant modifications, Verstappen found the same difficulties once on track.
“It didn’t really allow me to attack or feel comfortable” he admits.
The particular layout of Zandvoort, with its banked corners, its elevation changes and its many sequences, also seems to highlight certain weaknesses of the Red Bull.
Read more Lando Norris snatches pole from Mercedes under the threat of rain at Zandvoort
Verstappen thus acknowledges that it is “not the best track” for the RB22. But beyond the characteristics of the Dutch circuit, the driver especially believes that Red Bull must manage to eliminate a problem that has become recurrent.
“We can try to guess on which circuits it might work better, but we have to manage to eliminate this problem.”
Verstappen refuses comparison with 2025
The situation contrasts with that experienced last season. Red Bull had then managed to transform its car over the course of the year, allowing Verstappen to get back into the title fight after having been considerably behind.
The Dutchman however refuses to compare the two situations. The current difficulties occur within the framework of a brand new technical regulation and Red Bull has, according to him, never really found the right formula with its 2026 car.
“I think it’s a bit different from last year, he points out. We went from a situation where we were dominant to a clear setback, before regaining a very good level.”
“This time, it’s a completely different regulation and we have never really mastered it yet. The circumstances are therefore different.”
With Liam Lawson eighth just behind him, Verstappen’s difficulties seem to go beyond the Dutchman’s case alone. Red Bull will now have to try to limit the damage in the race, as Verstappen will start only from the fourth row for what could be his last appearance in Formula 1 in front of his home crowd at Zandvoort.
Read more Lando Norris pessimistic for McLaren at Zandvoort: «There is nothing we can do»