Verstappen Finds One Upside in Red Bull Radio Trouble

Max Verstappen says Red Bull has made progress with its troubled radio communications, but he sees an unexpected benefit in the fact that messages are not always clear to those listening outside the team.

The issue has affected Verstappen and team-mate Isack Hadjar across several grands prix. During the Singapore GP, race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase had to discuss strategy with Verstappen using a series of codes. The driver said the connection was better in Mexico after the team tested some adjustments, although a few settings still need attention.

Verstappen’s comments come alongside his repeated practice complaints about gearshifts. He said those remarks are intended to keep the team searching for improvements, not simply to vent frustration. The radio has also been important during strategy conversations, as shown in our coverage of Red Bull’s strategy decisions.

Better clarity for the team, even if others miss the message

Verstappen said Red Bull was hearing him well in Mexico, even if other listeners were not. He joked that the lack of clarity for the outside world was something the team could preserve, while making clear the communication between driver and pit wall had improved.

His gearshift comments, he explained, reflect a desire to refine the car and find more lap time. He said he is rarely satisfied because he believes there is always room to improve. That focus on detail, rather than the tone of the complaints, is what he wants the team to take from them.

The situation also puts Lambiase’s work with Verstappen in focus. Read more about Lambiase’s future with Red Bull.

Wet-weather running brings a separate software concern

The radio was not the only technical issue raised ahead of the São Paulo GP. With wet conditions expected, the new power units face another test after a software bug surfaced in wet conditions during the formation lap in Malaysia. Several cars stopped before reaching the grid, and FIA technicians fixed the problem before the race resumed.

Verstappen joked to Arvid Lindblad and Fernando Alonso that he had installed antivirus software on his car. Alonso said the uphill section after the final corner could leave any car with problems a long way from the circuit, but hoped the issue had been understood and resolved after Malaysia.