Red Bull identifies two "key focus" areas after Max Verstappen's promising start in Austin
Pierre Wache said Red Bull must improve bump handling and low-speed pace after Verstappen finished second and third in Friday practice.
- On Friday, Max Verstappen finished second and third in practice sessions for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, trailing Charles Leclerc by less than two tenths in both instances.
- Verstappen described the RB22 as "unacceptable" and "out of control" during Thursday's media day, citing the Circuit of the Americas' extreme bumpiness, particularly under braking at Turn 1.
- Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache admitted the team was caught out by the difficulty in balancing the car for the technical COTA layout, noting it is "not very compliant on the bumps."
- Isack Hadjar faced a difficult Saturday, finishing ninth in FP2 and stating the car was "completely gone" on soft tires, forcing the team to prioritize rebalancing both cars.
- Red Bull prioritizes tire degradation management for the race over one-lap performance, working to refine low-speed balance and high-speed stability before qualifying sessions commence.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Red Bull identifies two "key focus" areas after Max Verstappen's promising start in Austin
Verstappen concludes that Friday at the Circuit of the Americas was 'not a bad day at all'. Alongside the extreme bumps, technical director Pierre Waché pinpoints another important area for Red Bull to focus on
Hadjar Says Red Bull’s Car Was “Completely Gone” in Austin
Red Bull’s Friday at Austin exposed a setup problem: Max Verstappen stayed near the front, but Isack Hadjar said the RB22 became extremely difficult to drive on soft tires after changes to the car. The team now needs to restore Hadjar’s balance while preparing for a bumpy track where race-tire wear will matter.
“It’s just a disaster”: Hadjar baffled by struggles in 2026 F1 United States GP practice
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar labelled his soft tyre run in second practice at the 2026 United States GP “just a disaster” as Pierre Waché explained what went on overall. This happened after his front tyres faded in the esses section at the Circuit of the Americas. Hadjar finished ninth in FP2, 0.931 seconds behind...
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