Max Verstappen and Red Bull eye performance boost at Austrian GP amid contract talks

Red Bull Racing will debut its most extensive upgrade package since the 2026 Miami Grand Prix at its home event, the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. The package focuses on reducing the RB22’s weight by up to eight kilograms, a change projected to shave about two‑tenths of a second per lap, and on improving chassis and power‑unit performance. Team principal Laurent Mekies cautioned that the Austrian upgrade alone will not erase the team’s deficit, but driver Max Verstappen expressed excitement about testing the new balance on a circuit that traditionally favours Red Bull.

At the same time, Red Bull has scheduled a second high‑level meeting in Spielberg with senior executives, including shareholders Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya, to discuss Verstappen’s long‑term future. His contract contains a performance clause that permits him to leave if he is not in the top two of the drivers’ standings by the summer break; he currently sits seventh, some 60 points off the podium positions. The meeting follows an earlier summit in Salzburg and comes as rival teams such as Mercedes and McLaren also bring their own upgrades. Verstappen emphasized that closing the performance gap is crucial, while the outcome of the Austrian upgrade and the discussions could influence his decision on staying with Red Bull.