Red Bull Admits Systemic Clutch Issues Will Persist Into Next Season

Red Bull has admitted that the launch struggles plaguing the RB22 are rooted in a complex hardware failure that cannot be fully resolved before the end of the 2026 season. Team Principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that while the team is finding marginal gains, regaining benchmark start performance will require significant design changes that will only be implemented next year.

Why it matters:

In a hyper-competitive field where Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes have mastered the start, losing ground off the line is a critical liability. As the RB22's overall race pace has improved, the deficit at the start has become more pronounced, often forcing Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar to fight from behind despite having a car capable of leading.

The details:

• Hardware Fragility: Following the United States Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar described the clutch assembly as "fragile," noting that operating temperature instabilities are causing launch failures unrelated to driver error.
• Systemic Failure: Mekies noted that the problem is not isolated to one component but spans multiple departments, involving the engine, gearbox, and clutch assembly.
• Communication Breakdown: The team is also battling recurring radio dropouts. For the second consecutive race, both drivers experienced mid-session failures, complicating pit strategy and real-time instructions.

What's next:

Red Bull will continue to apply "small fixes" to close the gap for the remaining races of 2026, but the team has managed expectations regarding a total cure. The focus now shifts to the 2027 development cycle, where a complete hardware overhaul of the powertrain interface is expected to eliminate these foundational weaknesses.