Red Bull admits Max Verstappen’s mysterious car issue cannot be fully fixed until 2027

Red Bull has acknowledged that a persistent car degradation issue affecting Max Verstappen cannot be fully resolved until the 2027 Formula 1 season. Verstappen has frequently complained that his car's performance worsens over the course of a session or race, particularly affecting the rear axle. The issue remains unresolved despite the introduction of the completely new RB22 car for the 2026 season.

The four-time world champion revealed he has raised concerns internally about this issue for several years, including during qualifying at Monza where he described the car as being "made of paper." Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the team is aware of the ongoing car degradation during race weekends.