Red Bull identifies key cause of Max Verstappen's ongoing F1 performance struggles

Red Bull has pinpointed a critical mid-corner balance issue with its RB22 car as the primary reason for its worst start to a Formula 1 season in nearly a decade. Team principal Laurent Mekies revealed the unexpected handling flaw is preventing Max Verstappen from extracting the car's potential, leaving the reigning champions a distant fourth in the pecking order.

Why it matters:

For a team and driver accustomed to dominating the sport, this fundamental chassis problem represents a significant competitive crisis. The issue is eroding Verstappen's confidence and highlights that Red Bull's struggles extend beyond the new power unit regulations, threatening their ability to fight for podium finishes, let alone victories, in the current era.

The details:

• Mekies confirmed the team took a performance step backwards at the Chinese Grand Prix, with the midfield closing in on them.
• The core problem is a specific performance loss in certain cornering speeds and conditions, which Mekies described as a surprising "layer" of deficiency in the car's behavior.
• While there was a slight improvement in Japan compared to China—particularly in race trim—the gap to the front remains stark.
• The Performance Gap: Red Bull is currently about one second per lap slower than the fastest cars (Mercedes and McLaren) and roughly half a second behind the lead Ferrari.
• Verstappen's Frustration: The car's limitations were starkly illustrated in Japan when Verstappen, a three-time champion, could not find a way past Alpine's Pierre Gasly to finish seventh, underscoring the RB22's lack of race-day competitiveness.

What's next:

Red Bull's immediate focus is understanding and solving this mid-corner balance anomaly. The team must rapidly develop fixes to bridge the substantial gap to Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren. With Verstappen visibly unsettled by the car's characteristics, solving this chassis puzzle is urgent to prevent the season from slipping further away and to rebuild driver confidence.