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Verstappen Feels What Red Bull's Sensors Cannot Measure
Following an unexpected second-place finish in Hungary, Max Verstappen continues to grapple with 'car degradation' that only he seems able to detect, baffling Red Bull's data.
By Lesley Bakker - 2026-07-29T06:21:56.000Z - 3 min read
Max Verstappen closed out the first half of the season with an unexpected second place in Hungary—a result he himself described as astonishing. Despite this performance, hailed by many as a masterclass in a car that was clearly not the fastest, the Dutchman stepped out of his RB22 deeply frustrated. He was left 'shocked' by the outcome given the persistent issues that plagued him throughout the weekend.
At the root of his frustration lay an unusual problem of 'car degradation': his Red Bull machinery appeared to be literally falling apart during the race. In particular, the kerbs, abrasive track surface, and trips through the gravel traps at the Hungaroring rendered the car exceptionally fragile. The issue proved stubborn, with Verstappen sensing damage that team telemetry failed to register.
This fragility had already triggered an explosive outburst earlier in the weekend during qualifying. Over the team radio, Verstappen vented to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase: 'Mate, the car is aerodynamically completely broken, it's only getting worse.' He added: 'What a joke. What a joke, honestly. What a s*** weekend.' Despite a spin at the final corner in Q3, the rear end remained 'non-existent' even after repairs to a damaged floor edge.
The troubles failed to evaporate on Sunday, producing what Verstappen called 'one of the hardest races of the year.' That he nevertheless bagged a podium was down purely to grit, a razor-sharp start, and a brilliant pass on Lewis Hamilton into Turn 1. It highlighted his uncanny ability to perform under extreme adversity even when the car falls short.
Yet this is no isolated incident; the Red Bull's sensitivity has been a recurring, unresolved headache all season. Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that the RB22 has been 'extremely sensitive' to minor variables since day one, leaving the car balancing on a knife-edge. Beyond physical damage, even a treacherous gust of wind can knock the car out of its optimal operating window, destroying lap time and driver confidence.
Mekies noted that Red Bull has historically won multiple championships with cars featuring narrow operating windows. In his view, the trait is simply more noticeable now that the team finds itself in the role of 'hunter' rather than 'hunted.' The car's pace has swung between second, third, and even fourth fastest on the grid, compounding the inconsistency.
Crucially, Mekies regards Verstappen's ability to pinpoint issues invisible to engineers as a major asset rather than a flaw. 'It is a fact that Max feels things in the car that we cannot measure with our current data analysis and sensors,' Mekies admitted, attributing this directly to Verstappen's extraordinary sensitivity and technical intellect.
He emphasized that this is no cause for concern, but a massive advantage for the team. As an example, Mekies recalled Verstappen detecting a steering rack issue early in the year well before data confirmed it, allowing engineers to fix it promptly. It perfectly illustrates how Verstappen's unique 'feel' makes him an indispensable asset in car development.