Inside Red Bull's season rise: two upgrades, two big problems remain

Red Bull's 2026 season has been a story of two halves. The team that struggled to escape the midfield in March is now finishing just 4.3 seconds behind the winner, as Max Verstappen did in Madrid. But beneath the progress lie two persistent issues that could keep Red Bull from converting promise into regular victories.

Why it matters:

Red Bull is in its first season with an in-house power unit, and the RB22 has shown a remarkable upward trajectory. However, the gap to Mercedes remains significant, and solving these two problems is essential for any serious title challenge.

The details:

• Early struggles: Melbourne saw Verstappen recover to sixth after a qualifying crash. China and Japan were worse, with reliability issues and midfield pace.
• Miami turning point: A major upgrade arrived in Miami, including a rotating rear wing (dubbed the 'Macarena wing'), revised sidepods, a modified steering column, and a six-kilogram weight saving. Verstappen immediately qualified on the front row.
• Wing trouble: The innovative rear wing caused issues at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone due to a locking mechanism fault. Red Bull reverted to a conventional wing for Spa, then reintroduced a reinforced version.
• Austria upgrade: A second package arrived at the Red Bull Ring, with changes to sidepod inlets, engine cover cooling, and more weight reduction. Verstappen took P2, his best result alongside Madrid.
• Problem 1 – Energy management: Under 2026 regulations, the MGU-K delivers 350kW and the battery often runs dry before the end of straights – known as 'superclipping'. Mercedes manages this far better, as seen at Monza.
• Problem 2 – Car degradation: Red Bull calls it 'car degradation' – a loss of mechanical and aerodynamic balance as fuel weight drops. The RB22 is actually stronger with a full tank, and rear-end instability and tyre overheating worsen as the race goes on.

What's next:

Red Bull is clearly on the right trajectory, but neither Verstappen nor the team will be satisfied with fourth-fastest on average. Closing the gap to Mercedes will require solving both the energy recovery puzzle and the car's counterintuitive behaviour over a race stint. If they can, the wins will come.