Red Bull Racing arrives at the Monaco GP next weekend still trying to solve one of the main limitations of its car in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Max Verstappen stated that the behavior of the RB22 over curbs and bumps remains a weak point for the team and even joked about the challenge he will face on the streets of the Principality.
Read more Alonso talks about how he stays motivated even in a difficult period in F1
The Monte Carlo circuit is known for its asphalt irregularities and the proximity of the protective barriers, characteristics that can amplify a difficulty that was already evident during the Canadian GP. According to the four-time world champion, this problem has accompanied Red Bull for several seasons and remains present even after the introduction of the new technical regulations.
During the weekend in Montreal, Verstappen stated that tracks with many bumps and curbs continue to be an obstacle for the team: “Anywhere that has a lot of bumps will be difficult for us. This has to do with the philosophy of our car at the moment, with the way you set it up to deal with irregularities compared to the aerodynamic load,” he said.
The Dutchman acknowledged that the situation is still far from ideal: “It’s still not ideal. It was a bit better in Miami, but there it’s not as irregular. That makes it easier to find the right setup,” he said.
When asked what he expects to find in Monaco, Verstappen replied humorously: “Ah, yes, that’s going to be great. I think I’ll order a new spine!”, jokingly referring to the discomfort caused by the car’s characteristics on bumpier tracks.
Read more F1: McLaren Chief Does Not Give Up on Title in 2026
The driver himself admitted surprise that Red Bull continues to face this type of difficulty: “If we knew exactly what is causing it. I have some ideas, and that’s what we’re going to work on now.” This statement suggests that the team is still trying to identify the exact origin of the problem to develop a definitive solution.
Despite the concerns raised by Verstappen, the team principal, Laurent Mekies, expressed confidence that the situation can be resolved this season. According to the executive, there is nothing to indicate that the fix needs to be postponed to the 2027 car: “We don’t see anything that can’t be fixed in 2026,” he said.
Mekies highlighted, however, that the challenge is not simply to eliminate the problem but to do so without compromising the overall performance of the car: “It would probably be quite easy to fix the issue and make the car slower. What we want is to solve the problem and gain lap time back. It’s a complex issue,” he concluded. Even so, he believes that Red Bull will continue to evolve throughout the championship and will be able to reap the benefits of this work on circuits like Baku, Singapore, and Las Vegas.
