Red Bull is placing its expectations on the largest upgrade for 2026.
Red Bull is gearing up for what insiders are calling its most significant upgrade package for the 2026 season, with increasing pressure as the team approaches its home race in Austria. Erik van Haren, a journalist for De Telegraaf and De Limburger, reports that the updates expected to arrive at Spielberg are even more substantial than those introduced in Miami earlier this season. "Now, insiders are confirming that the new package will be even more impactful," he stated.
The Austrian team is optimistic that this development can address a concerning trend which has positioned Max Verstappen in P7 in the drivers' standings, leading to open doubts about the RB22's competitiveness.
In other good news, Van Haren notes that Red Bull has finally managed to reduce the car to meet the minimum weight limit after competing with an overweight vehicle so far this season. This timing is crucial amidst ongoing speculation regarding Verstappen's future and whether he might soon exercise performance-related exit clauses in his contract.
1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes that Red Bull cannot afford to lose its star driver. "They absolutely need to keep him, as he’s currently the only positive aspect of the team - aside from the engine," he remarked. "There seems to be a significant internal power struggle regarding who should lead, and there is a lot of turnover."
He expressed concern about the future at Red Bull, saying, "It’s tough to envision a positive outlook. It’s quite strange." Villeneuve feels the situation has been worsening for a while, explaining, "It has become very political over the last two or three years. Matters are currently deteriorating, and they haven't hit rock bottom yet."
Red Bull has been contesting the FIA’s ADUO assessment, which identified Red Bull-Ford as the benchmark internal combustion engine manufacturer, thus limiting its potential for performance enhancements. Ironically, Ferrari plans to utilize one of its ADUO development opportunities in Austria. Giusto Ferronato from La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Maranello team will unveil a significant power unit upgrade aimed at gaining approximately two tenths of a second per lap.
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