The state of play at Red Bull

Red Bull is facing a challenging start to the 2026 F1 season, sitting in sixth place in the Constructors' Championship with only 16 points. The team, struggling with reliability issues in their in-house power unit and a lack of balance in the RB22 chassis, is currently trailing mid-field rivals like Haas and Alpine. Drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have expressed significant frustration with the car's performance, ranging from engine deployment issues to handling difficulties. Despite the rocky start, the team is banking on their proven ability to develop through a season and the solid potential shown by rookie Hadjar, who has demonstrated impressive pace in qualifying. Team leadership, including Laurent Mekies, is emphasizing a full-scale analysis during the upcoming break to address the multifaceted issues. With critical improvements needed in both power unit reliability and aerodynamic setup, Red Bull acknowledges that returning to the front of the pack—led by a dominant Mercedes—will require a massive effort over the coming weeks.