Red Bull grapples with Silverstone setbacks ahead of Spa challenge

Red Bull Racing endured a difficult weekend at Silverstone, where Max Verstappen retired after a rear‑wing failure. Verstappen criticised the car, saying “if it were up to me, I’d start from the pit lane,” and expressed frustration with the package. Team principal Laurent Mekies warned that Spa‑Francorchamps may present similar “energy‑starving” limitations, noting “it’s a good representation of the complexity of where we are with the cars.” He added the team will continue to improve “at 360 degrees” before the Belgian Grand Prix. Technical director Pierre Waché also cited external pressures, including rising component costs linked to geopolitical tensions, which constrain development for the current RB22 and the upcoming 2027 car. The combination of on‑track performance issues and broader cost pressures underscores Red Bull’s ongoing challenge to restore competitiveness.