AUGUST 23, 2026

Sick Verstappen sees fundamental Red Bull problems

Max Verstappen has revealed he has been ill throughout his home Grand Prix weekend, even as stand-in teammate Liam Lawson has impressed by staying unusually close to him at Zandvoort.

I've been feeling unwell all weekend, said the quadruple world champion on Saturday. And today it feels like I've gotten even worse.

It's not nice. I'm just sick, like everyone else when they're sick.

Despite that, Verstappen qualified P7, with Lawson just 0.085 seconds behind.

Verstappen says the gap is partly explained by the fact that Red Bull's deeper car problems remain unresolved.

We have changed quite a bit about the car, but it didn't matter that much, he said. I think we are now a bit more stuck with fundamental problems in the car, which we have to solve.

Hopefully we'll manage to get them sorted out for next year. It's not that frustrating because we've basically been dealing with the same issues all year.

Lawson says adapting to the RB22 has still been difficult because almost everything feels different from his Racing Bulls car.

Except for the engine, each part feels different, said the New Zealander.

But he says the weekend has also underlined how much more confident and experienced he is now than when Red Bull dropped him after just two races in 2025.

I've always known deep down what I'm capable of, said Lawson. It's just that circumstances have unfolded differently.

But now, perhaps, you and the whole world can see it.

Verstappen had criticised Red Bull at the time for replacing Lawson so quickly and says he still stands by that view. Yes, that was of course my opinion, said the Dutchman.

He hopes Lawson can now build on the unexpected return for his future. I hope so, said Verstappen. I hope so. I don't have it in my hands anyway.

Verstappen also pointed to Yuki Tsunoda's immediate pace at Racing Bulls as evidence that jumping into the 2026 cars is perhaps easier than in previous generations.

I think it's a bit easier in these cars to get in and join right away. Everyone has been within a tenth all season, he said.

That's just how it is.

For Lawson, though, the immediate focus is simply making the most of Sunday's race. To be honest, I came into this weekend not really thinking about my future or the car I'm driving.

I have a chance to take points tomorrow. That's what I'm focused on right now.

(GMM)