Red Bull’s Baku Near-Miss Highlights 2026 Struggle Against Mercedes

Max Verstappen came agonizingly close to victory in Baku, finishing just 0.196 seconds behind George Russell. While the result proves Red Bull's race pace is recovering, Verstappen admits the team "messed up" their best opportunity to win in 2026, leaving the team in a precarious position.

Why it matters:

The near-win in Azerbaijan highlights a critical reality: Red Bull is fighting an uphill battle against a superior Mercedes package. With the RB22 struggling for consistency throughout the year, Baku's unique layout offered a rare window of competitiveness that the team failed to fully exploit.

The details:

• Technical Upgrades: The final major package for the RB22—featuring a new floor and revised sidepods—delivered improved through-corner balance and increased driver confidence.
• Power Unit Deficit: Despite aero gains, Red Bull remains behind Mercedes in electrical deployment and suffers from higher tire degradation, costing them "free" lap time.
• Performance Gap: While top speed on Baku's main straight was competitive, the lack of PU efficiency prevents them from sustaining a dominant attack over a full race distance.

The big picture:

The competitive gap is expected to widen. Mercedes is slated to introduce a significant W17 upgrade package and a power unit ADUO update in Malaysia, further distancing themselves from the field. Consequently, Team Principal Laurent Mekies has shifted the internal focus toward 2027, emphasizing that the remaining races are now vital data-gathering exercises to ensure the next car can consistently fight at the front.

What's next:

A winless season would be a historic failure for Red Bull, marking their first since 2015. While the team will fight for a breakthrough victory in the final rounds, the real priority has shifted to the 2027 chassis development, as the 2026 car appears to have hit its developmental ceiling.