Max Verstappen dismisses Red Bull 'magic' as he plots recovery from illness

Max Verstappen has played down Red Bull's Dutch GP performance, insisting the team cannot conjure "magic" fixes for the RB22. The four-time champion was battling illness all weekend at what is likely his final Zandvoort appearance, with the circuit dropping from the calendar for next season, then crashed out on the opening lap in treacherous conditions.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's assessment shows how far Red Bull has slipped. The team is now fourth-fastest, and with rivals bringing upgrades while Red Bull has not, the gap is growing. His comments frame the challenge for the rest of the season and into 2027.

The details:

• He could only manage sixth in the sprint before a heavy crash at the final corner on the first racing lap, triggering a red flag.
• Liam Lawson, standing in for the injured Isack Hadjar, finished seventh to give Red Bull a small positive.
• "I wish for more, but you need to be realistic," Verstappen said. "This season we are the fourth-fastest team, so it's not like rocking up to Zandvoort, suddenly we can do some magic things."
• He added: "Other teams have brought upgrades; we haven't. When you're already on the back foot, it puts you even more on the back foot."

Between the lines:

The Dutchman admitted he has "not been feeling well" and is looking forward to the off-week to recover before Monza. With a new contract through 2030, he remains Red Bull's long-term anchor, but the immediate priority is regaining fitness and extracting the most from a car not capable of fighting at the front.

What's next:

Red Bull heads to Monza with no major upgrade package in sight. Verstappen will hope rest and a more conventional circuit can limit the damage, even if a return to winning ways appears out of reach.