Verstappen buoyed by Austria podium: 'First time I could fight for the win'

Max Verstappen left Austria with a renewed belief that Red Bull can win again in 2026 after securing second place and declaring it the first time he felt capable of fighting for victory all season. The Dutchman recovered from a qualifying crash to finish just 1.6 seconds behind winner George Russell, offering concrete evidence that the team's heavily revised RB22 has turned a corner.

Why it matters:

After a winless and frustrating start to the year, Verstappen's charge from fifth on the grid signals that Red Bull's aggressive upgrade push is finally delivering results. Rather than simply managing gaps to the leaders, the four-time world champion spent the race genuinely attacking rivals, confirming that the team has rejoined the fight at the front of the field.

The details:

• Verstappen started fifth following his qualifying crash but carved through the field early, battling Lewis Hamilton before chasing down the leading Mercedes cars ahead.
• Mid-race fade: The RB22's competitiveness dropped off sharply in the second stint. Verstappen reported that rear grip, traction, and confidence over bumps and kerbs had "completely gone away," ending his victory challenge.
• Strategy gamble: Red Bull kept Verstappen out longer than Russell before the final pit stop to gain a tire advantage, but the Dutchman admitted afterward that the time lost likely outweighed the benefit of the fresher rubber.

What's next:

Austria provided the validation Red Bull needed, yet the team must solve the rear instability that plagued the second half of Verstappen's race and sharpen its strategy calls. With genuine race-winning pace now confirmed, the focus shifts to stringing together a clean weekend—something that, if achieved, could finally break Verstappen's victory drought.