Verstappen identifies Red Bull’s “big priority” before summer break

Verstappen demands more from Red Bull’s RB22

Max Verstappen has identified Red Bull’s most urgent problem before the Formula 1 summer break: the RB22 is losing performance as a grand prix weekend develops.

“That is also actually a big priority,” he told media.

Qualifying exposes car degradation

At the Hungaroring, Verstappen said the issue was not simply tyre degradation. Instead, he described the car itself as suffering from “car degradation”, with each qualifying lap becoming less competitive than the last.

“Every lap that I did in qualifying just was worse and worse,” Verstappen said.

The problem reached its most visible point in Q3, when he spun and qualified sixth. He described the rear of the car as “non-existent” on turn-in, a particularly damaging limitation on a lap where confidence and consistency are essential.

His recovery to second behind race winner Lando Norris was therefore an important salvage operation, but it also highlighted the gap between Verstappen’s ability to extract a result and Red Bull’s current level of performance. The team’s immediate challenge is not only to make the RB22 faster, but to ensure that pace remains available throughout a race weekend.

ADUO question remains open

Verstappen also raised the question of the ADUO system introduced under the 2026 regulations. The FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities mechanism provides extra engine upgrades to manufacturers whose internal-combustion-engine performance falls below the benchmark.

Red Bull Powertrains has been deemed the benchmark by the FIA, leaving Red Bull ineligible for those catch-up concessions. Verstappen acknowledged the unusual situation with a pointed remark: “I would love to have some ADUO as well.”

He added that the team would review the situation after the break. His comments complement Red Bull’s wider concerns about the RB22, an issue also examined in Verstappen’s assessment of the team’s second-half priorities.