Red Bull identifies two "key focus" areas after Max Verstappen's promising start in Austin
Red Bull said the RB22 needs better bump compliance and low-speed grip after Max Verstappen finished within two tenths of Charles Leclerc in Friday practice.
- At the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Isack Hadjar finished ninth in FP2, struggling with balance issues on the Red Bull RB22 and describing the car as "very difficult to drive."
- Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache admitted the team struggled to balance the RB22 for COTA's bumpy layout, calling the track "more difficult than we expected."
- Verstappen explained that the current generation of Formula1 cars lack compliance on bumps as expected, describing the track surface as "unacceptable" and "out of control" during Thursday's media day.
- Wache emphasized the team must avoid focusing solely on one-lap performance, as race degradation remains critical at COTA despite the setup challenges.
- Improving car balance remains Hadjar's priority after the vehicle's performance dropped significantly on soft tires, with the team facing substantial work on both cars before qualifying.
11 Articles
11 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...
Max Verstappen finished Friday’s 2026 U.S. GP training in second and third place. In both sessions, the four-time world champion finished less than two-tenths of Charles Leclerc, who scored the best time. Red Bull did not immediately highlight the rest of the p
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