Red Bull's Kerb Weakness Persists, But Mekies Says Fix Is Possible in 2026

Red Bull's longstanding weakness over kerbs and bumps has carried into the 2026 season, as Max Verstappen admitted after the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite new technical regulations, the car's philosophy leaves it vulnerable on bumpy circuits. Team principal Laurent Mekies, however, is optimistic that the issues can be resolved within the year without compromising performance.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's inability to handle kerbs and bumps has been a recurring Achilles' heel since the ground-effect era. If unresolved, it could cost them championships at tracks like Monaco, Baku, Singapore, and Las Vegas. Mekies' confidence suggests a fix is on the horizon, but balancing ride quality with lap time is a complex engineering challenge.

The details:

• Verstappen told Dutch media that any bumpy track is difficult for Red Bull due to the car's current setup philosophy.
• The issue is surprising given the 2026 regulations are less dependent on extreme ride heights, but the underlying philosophy remains problematic.
• Mekies stated that the team is working on a solution that fixes the issues while also bringing lap time, not just a simple compromise.
• "We love complex issues," Mekies said, expressing confidence that Red Bull can crack the problem as they have with other fundamental challenges this season.

What's next:

• The upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will be a severe test, with Verstappen joking he'll need a new back.
• Later in the season, circuits like Baku, Singapore, and Las Vegas will also punish any kerb weakness.
• If Red Bull can solve the ride issues in-season, they could maintain their competitive edge across all circuit types.