2026 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[Valeo]

If I was Red Bull I would use the race as a test session. It's important to understand what the issues are ahead of the long break. Change Verstappen's car again, start from the pitlane, and see how it responds. The race is 90 minutes. A normal free practice is 1 hour. They can make setup changes during the race. It's important to have a direction during the break. There cannot be doubt about the issues.

And I would add that likely it won‘t even make much of a difference where he finishes (if he does…) as we have seen during the past two races where he was also pretty much last after T1.
I feel they are still too proud to do this, as they already could have done for the China Sprint but I agree, they should start from the pit lane.

[euv2]

Almost everyone on the team has said there's a PU deficit, it might not be huge, but it definitely exists when compared to the Mercedes PU. How significant it is we don't know, unless they qualify for ADUO, which seems unlikely.

[Rikhart]

That's the past, every driver faces regs eventually that they struggle with. Hamilton GE cars and so far Verstappen 2026 cars

Maybe he'll be more comfortable when they amend the battery rules to fix qualifying

I still so no solid reasoning for this 'Hamilton had issues with ground effect cars' claim, at least more than anybody else. Why was he still beating Russell in 2022 and 2023?

I think Verstappen has absolutely earned the benefit of the doubt on his adaptability here. Genuinely one of the most adaptable drivers we've ever seen, as most all the best drivers are.

He got worse as the GE era went on
22 no different from 21 really
23 on the pace but had some weekends where he was quite slow
24 bad
25 terrible

Oh wait, so you're just a silly troll, ok.

[f1isgood]

Almost everyone on the team has said there's a PU deficit, it might not be huge, but it definitely exists when compared to the Mercedes PU. How significant it is we don't know, unless they qualify for ADUO, which seems unlikely.

Ultimately it's not the PU that's the issue. With their suboptimal PU there's good reason to believe they'll be ahead or in the ballpark of Ferrari assuming a competent chassis. They have a --- chassis

[DJ Downforce]

Hmm... I wonder what will happen to your conclusion in case Verstappen finishes the race ahead of Hadjar tomorrow. Don't you think you are drawing inferences from a very small sample set ?

Qualifying pace and race pace are very different!

I said Hadjar has been doing a very good job adapting his style in qualifying! As they haven't both finished a race together yet, it's hard to infer who might be adapting better on the long runs, let's hope tomorrow we find out!

It’s 2-1 in Max favor over one lap. Only Piastri is better against his teammate among top teams.
Hadjar was 2,5 tenths slower than Max and almost out in Q2 in China, got through by 2 thousands. This time it was Max turn. He was only 1,5 tenths slower than Isaak in Q2 and it was enough to get eliminated, he wasn’t as lucky. Russell is 3 tenths slower than a his weaker teammate (based on evidence of last year) again, but the likes of you don’t speak about him in the same manner you talk about Verstappen.

Im not talking about russell here as this is the red bull 2026 thread! Quite the personal attack this post...

[DJ Downforce]

I still so no solid reasoning for this 'Hamilton had issues with ground effect cars' claim, at least more than anybody else. Why was he still beating Russell in 2022 and 2023?

I think Verstappen has absolutely earned the benefit of the doubt on his adaptability here. Genuinely one of the most adaptable drivers we've ever seen, as most all the best drivers are.

He got worse as the GE era went on
22 no different from 21 really
23 on the pace but had some weekends where he was quite slow
24 bad
25 terrible

Oh wait, so you're just a silly troll, ok.

So you disagree that Hamilton got worse as the GE era went on? Interesting.

[DJ Downforce]

Hmm... I wonder what will happen to your conclusion in case Verstappen finishes the race ahead of Hadjar tomorrow. Don't you think you are drawing inferences from a very small sample set ?

Qualifying pace and race pace are very different!

I said Hadjar has been doing a very good job adapting his style in qualifying! As they haven't both finished a race together yet, it's hard to infer who might be adapting better on the long runs, let's hope tomorrow we find out!

Interesting point of view you have. Are you deliberately ignoring race pace difference? Even with the abysmal starts, Verstappen managed to overtake Hadjar pretty swiftly. Gap in race pace was very obvious as well, even though Verstappen 'has not adjusted his driving style'.

You're comparison to Hamilton in 22-25 is also interesting. Apart from both drivers being in a different part of their careers, I don't really see how you could make the point Russell being a lot faster than Hamilton? But of course, some say Verstappen was 'beaten' by Riciardo. I'd guess you are one of those people? Looking at points standing and race results only says so much.

Anyway not sure if you are serious or trolling, but you made your point. Thanks

I'm not sure that I'm ignoring anything, neither driver have finished a race where the other has finished so we cannot comment on if one has adapted better to race conditions. Remember, when Hadjar retired in Aus he was ahead and when Verstappen retired in China he was ahead. They seem pretty close so far!

This isn't about ricciardo and Verstappen, why are you putting words in my mouth?

I'm trying to have a serious discussion on the driving styles these cars require, I'll continue making my point where i see fit throughout the forum

[Wouter]

Qualifying pace and race pace are very different!

I said Hadjar has been doing a very good job adapting his style in qualifying! As they haven't both finished a race together yet, it's hard to infer who might be adapting better on the long runs, let's hope tomorrow we find out!

Interesting point of view you have. Are you deliberately ignoring race pace difference? Even with the abysmal starts, Verstappen managed to overtake Hadjar pretty swiftly. Gap in race pace was very obvious as well, even though Verstappen 'has not adjusted his driving style'.

You're comparison to Hamilton in 22-25 is also interesting. Apart from both drivers being in a different part of their careers, I don't really see how you could make the point Russell being a lot faster than Hamilton? But of course, some say Verstappen was 'beaten' by Riciardo. I'd guess you are one of those people? Looking at points standing and race results only says so much.

Anyway not sure if you are serious or trolling, but you made your point. Thanks

I'm not sure that I'm ignoring anything, neither driver have finished a race where the other has finished so we cannot comment on if one has adapted better to race conditions. Remember, when Hadjar retired in Aus he was ahead and when Verstappen retired in China he was ahead. They seem pretty close so far!

This isn't about ricciardo and Verstappen, why are you putting words in my mouth?

I'm trying to have a serious discussion on the driving styles these cars retire, I'll continue making my point where i see fit throughout the forum

.
Are you? By trolling? Why are you trolling?

[f1isgood]

DJ Downforce has their bait on point. So many people falling for this. Guys give it a break. Ignorance is sometimes bliss.

[DJ Downforce]

I guess if there isn't interest in a technical discussion of an aspect of f1 in this thread I'll save it for another one..

[f1isgood]

I guess if there isn't interest in a technical aspect of f1 in this thread I'll save it for another one

So sad.

[Seanspeed]

That's the past, every driver faces regs eventually that they struggle with. Hamilton GE cars and so far Verstappen 2026 cars

Maybe he'll be more comfortable when they amend the battery rules to fix qualifying

I still so no solid reasoning for this 'Hamilton had issues with ground effect cars' claim, at least more than anybody else. Why was he still beating Russell in 2022 and 2023?

I think Verstappen has absolutely earned the benefit of the doubt on his adaptability here. Genuinely one of the most adaptable drivers we've ever seen, as most all the best drivers are.

He got worse as the GE era went on
22 no different from 21 really
23 on the pace but had some weekends where he was quite slow
24 bad
25 terrible

Right, but if the GE cars were such an issue for him, why did it take time for this supposed problem to manifest? Why was he still driving very well for the first two years overall? The argument just doesn't make sense. Especially if you're trying to now say Max similarly has a problem with these new regulations after just two race weekends.

Seems to me Lewis didn't have any particular problem with GE cars, he just got older and was up against two of the best new drivers on the grid. And similarly, Max has 100% earned benefit of the doubt to be written off as being 'bad' at the new regulations because of two and a half race weekends where the car is not good and the regulations are super freaking weird and messed up.

[GrizzleBoy]

You could actually argue that both times Max has had a close world championship season, he lost both times.

*drops empty petroleum canister*

[avantman]

Isack has indeed adapted to the regulations perfectly and now shows wherr the car truly is in the pecking order. Great to see finally a capable 2nd(soon to become 1st) driver serving a reliable reference point of genuine car performance.

[Juzh]

this is RBR thread, not mercedes