Red Bull’s Struggles Continue as Verstappen Qualifies Seventh at Austrian GP
Max Verstappen expressed low expectations for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, having qualified seventh after a challenging session marked by significant grip issues. Red Bull planned to leverage recent upgrades, aiming for a strong home race performance; however, the team fell short during qualifying.
Throughout practice, Red Bull appeared to lag behind McLaren, although Verstappen maintained a competitive edge. The situation worsened in qualifying, as Verstappen struggled to achieve balance in the car, experiencing both understeer and oversteer.
“Every corner was a struggle; I just didn’t have the balance,” Verstappen commented, noting that the car’s behavior was inconsistent throughout qualifying. He indicated that adjustments made during the session were minimal and should not have drastically impacted performance.
The increased track temperatures and wind conditions further complicated the situation. “We didn’t touch the car…. Just very tiny little changes that shouldn’t influence the car balance,” he explained, reflecting on the unexpected decline in performance.
With the parc ferme regulations limiting further setup modifications, Verstappen anticipates a difficult race on Sunday, stating, “Not a lot [is expected]. Not to fight up front, for sure.” He acknowledged that the team must analyze the qualifying performance, which did not meet expectations.
As he prepares for the race, Verstappen’s initial assessment suggests that the team will need to innovate under challenging conditions to remain competitive.
