Buemi: Verstappen win 'a matter of time' after Red Bull Spa progress

Red Bull simulator driver Sebastien Buemi insists it is only a "matter of time" before Max Verstappen takes his first win of 2026, praising the team's Spa-Francorchamps turnaround as proof its in-house powertrain project is maturing.

Verstappen's Belgian Grand Prix podium was a rare bright spot in a frustrating season, with Buemi revealing the Dutchman was happy with the RB22's balance from the very first practice session.

Why it matters:

After switching to its own power unit, Red Bull has endured a steep learning curve and Verstappen remains winless deep into the 2026 season. The Spa weekend offered tangible evidence that the Milton Keynes outfit is finding consistency, a vital step if it hopes to challenge a dominant Mercedes squad spearheaded by Antonelli.

The details:

• Buemi described Spa as a "straightforward" event where the team arrived with a strong baseline, a stark contrast to previous rounds spent chasing lap time.
• Reliability gains: Both cars ran cleanly, though teammate Isack Hadjar served a grid penalty for a power unit change.
• Buemi felt Ferrari stole second place thanks to a fortuitous virtual safety car, arguing Verstappen deserved the runner-up spot on merit.
• Despite the progress, Buemi admitted Mercedes and Antonelli remain the benchmark when they execute cleanly, though he stressed Red Bull's double top-six finish deserves far more credit than it receives.

What's next:

Red Bull heads to the Hungarian Grand Prix aiming to build on its Spa momentum, but Buemi warned that more upgrades are required to fight for victories regularly. Should the team sustain its reliability improvements, Verstappen's long-awaited breakthrough could come sooner rather than later.