Red Bull Racing’s difficult 2026 Formula 1 campaign has taken another dramatic turn after technical director Pierre Wache made a candid admission about the team’s struggling RB22 car — a machine that reigning world champion Max Verstappen has repeatedly described as “undriveable.”
Concerns surrounding the RB22 surfaced as early as the second round of the season in Shanghai, where Verstappen first voiced his frustration with the car’s handling and balance issues. Despite Red Bull’s efforts to improve performance throughout the year, the problems have persisted, leaving the Dutch driver battling to remain competitive against rivals from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
As Formula 1 heads into its summer break, Verstappen finds himself down in sixth place in the drivers’ championship standings — an unfamiliar position for a driver who has dominated much of the sport in recent years. The disappointing campaign has also fueled speculation over his future, with reports suggesting that an exit clause in his contract has now become active due to Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness.
Although Verstappen has managed to secure three podium finishes in the last four races, many observers believe those results owe more to the four-time world champion’s exceptional driving ability than to the pace of the RB22 itself. The Dutchman’s remarkable second-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix only reinforced that view.
Following the race in Budapest, Verstappen openly admitted his surprise at the result, saying: “Overall, I still don’t really understand how we are second.”
The statement highlighted the scale of Red Bull’s current challenges and underlined how difficult the season has become for the Milton Keynes-based team.
Pressure is now mounting on Pierre Wache, who has overseen the development of the RB22 following the departure of several key technical figures in recent years. The French engineer faces the difficult task of not only solving the car’s fundamental problems but also convincing Verstappen that Red Bull remains capable of returning to championship-winning form.
The team knows that keeping Verstappen is crucial to its future. With rival teams reportedly monitoring the situation closely, Red Bull must demonstrate clear progress if it hopes to retain its star driver beyond 2027.
Despite the setbacks, there have been signs of improvement in recent races, and Red Bull remains determined to turn its season around. However, with the championship slipping away and questions growing over the car’s performance, the pressure inside the team has never been greater.
For Red Bull, the coming months could prove decisive — not only for the future of the RB22 project but also for the long-term future of Max Verstappen at the team.
