Verstappen: Fixing RB22's weekend performance drop is Red Bull's 'big priority'

Max Verstappen has identified Red Bull's most critical weakness heading into the summer break: the RB22's tendency to lose performance over a grand prix weekend. After salvaging second in Hungary despite a nightmare qualifying, the four-time champion told media the issue is a "big priority."

Why it matters:

Red Bull's decline has been dramatic. The team now sits fourth in the constructors' championship on 177 points, trailing Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren. If the RB22 cannot maintain performance from Friday to Sunday, Verstappen's title hopes will fade and the squad risks losing more ground in the standings.

The details:

• The Hungarian Grand Prix laid bare the problem. After complaining the rear was "non-existent," Verstappen spun in Q3 and started sixth.
• He drew a sharp distinction between tyre degradation and "car degradation," insisting every qualifying lap was "worse and worse."
• He recovered to finish second behind Lando Norris, but the result masked a fundamental fragility in the RB22.

Between the lines:

Verstappen touched on a frustrating irony under the 2026 engine rules. Despite struggling for outright pace, Red Bull Powertrains serves as the benchmark manufacturer, meaning the team is ineligible for the FIA's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) granted to rivals. "I would love to have some ADUO as well," he conceded, underscoring the difficulty of closing the gap without the same regulatory lifelines.

What's next:

The summer break gives Red Bull a crucial window to diagnose why the RB22 fades across a weekend. Verstappen insists the team must find "more overall performance" and fix its mid-weekend slump. Whether engineers can unlock a cure before racing resumes will decide if Red Bull can salvage its campaign or remain on the sidelines of the title fight.