Heading into the race weekend Max Verstappen admitted he’s unsure how Red Bull will perform at the 2026 Belgian GP after recent struggles left the team searching for answers.
While Red Bull showed encouraging pace in Austria, Silverstone proved to be a tricky weekend for the team, as balance problems and later a race-ending rear-wing issue left Verstappen visibly frustrated.
Verstappen admits he “doesn’t know” what to expect at the 2026 Belgian GP
The Dutchman held off on making any predictions about the team’s expected form at the Belgian GP in light of Red Bull’s recent lack of consistency.
“Yeah, I don’t know. Let’s see tomorrow, to be honest,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know how we are going to perform. It’s as simple as that, to be honest.”
The four-time world champion agreed with the assessment that the drop in performance from the Austrian GP to the British GP just a week later was “disappointing.”
Verstappen said: “Exactly like that. And that’s why I also don’t really know what to expect here. So it’s better not to think about it too much and just go out.”
Red Bull makes a rear-wing spec change for Belgian GP after Verstappen’s recent issues
One notable change for this weekend is Red Bull opting to return to its previous rear-wing specification after the problems the team encountered with the newer version in recent races, particularly on Verstappen’s side.
Asked about the decision, Verstappen suggested the reasoning hardly required much explanation.
“I think it’s quite obvious, no?” he responded wryly. “So, yeah, we’ll go back on the old one and then see whenever the latest or new one is ready again to be used for us.”
Positive relationship with Laurent Mekies
Verstappen spoke positively about his working relationship with team principal Laurent Mekies, who recently completed his first year in charge.
“It’s been really good,” the Dutchman said. “I get on very well with Laurent. We speak a lot on track, but also off track. I think the relationship that he has with us within the team is great.
“Everything for me feels very positive. I think it’s always nice when you can discuss a lot of things with your team boss. From that sense, I’m very happy. It’s all very open and transparent.”
Verstappen focused on the future despite Red Bull changes
Speaking during Thursday’s press conference ahead of the 2026 Belgian GP, Verstappen also addressed Red Bull’s wider direction as the Milton Keynes outfit continues its transition into becoming a full power unit manufacturer while also managing ongoing brain drain.
The Dutchman stressed that the team’s focus remains on solving its current problems while continuing to build for the future.
“No, we’re just looking to the future, trying to fix also, you know, current issues that we have on the car,” Verstappen said. “But that’s very like an open discussion. And yes, sometimes you get a little bit disappointed or upset after a race.
“For example, after Silverstone, you go home, you reset. On Wednesday, I was back at the factory. And then you prepare again the weekends ahead. That’s how I’ve been operating all the years together. And of course, some years you’re just a little bit more competitive than others.”
Verstappen insisted that neither his own approach nor the team’s mindset has changed despite recent setbacks.
“But in terms of my approach and how we work as a team, nothing really changes,” he said. “And yeah, that people come and go. I think that’s sometimes also part of the process that sometimes you want people to stay potentially, yes.
“But I think, yeah, sometimes that’s just how life is, how sport is as well. You just have to carry on, try to find also new talent, that’s what you also look at all the time. And yeah, that’s what we do.”
