Red Bull confirms a problem that costs time lap after lap

Max Verstappen has complained for several races that the RB22 seems to lose performance over the course of a session or Grand Prix. Laurent Mekies has now confirmed the phenomenon is real. According to the Red Bull team principal, some parts of the car do not always retain their optimum performance level, with what he describes as a significant lap-time impact. It is a separate issue from the poor electrical deployment seen in Madrid.

More worrying is that Red Bull has been working on the weakness for some time without finding a definitive fix. The team says it improved its understanding at Madring, but Mekies warns there is no quick solution and the issue could still follow the team into next season. Behind Verstappen's six podiums, Red Bull is now publicly acknowledging a structural weakness.