(Motorsport-Total.com) – The Red Bull home race in Spielberg is under special scrutiny this year. Although the initial goal on the track is to reduce the gap to the competition, a much bigger question looms in the background: Can Red Bull convince Max Verstappen in the long term that the team will continue to fight for wins and world championships in the future?
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Speculation about the future of the four-time world champion has been ongoing for weeks. There is repeated talk about possible transfer options, while rumors about clauses in Verstappen’s contract are also circulating.
Officially, however, little has changed in the situation. Red Bull would like to get clarity about the future of its superstar driver as soon as possible. Verstappen, on the other hand, can afford to wait.
The situation strongly resembles last year. Even then, Red Bull had to prove to its star driver that the sporting development was heading in the right direction. And just like then, Verstappen currently seems in no hurry to make a long-term decision.
Austria update expected to bring next step
Sportingly, the team’s hopes now rest on the second major update package of the season. After Red Bull had already introduced initial improvements in Miami, the next development stage follows in Spielberg.
With the Miami package, the team was already able to make initial progress. Among other things, the car’s overweight of around twelve kilograms was roughly halved. At the same time, the car received a comprehensively revised aerodynamics package, including new sidepods.
Technical director Pierre Wache had already announced immediately after the Miami weekend that another development step would follow. This is now being used for the first time at the home race in Austria.
Expectations within the team are realistic, however. Team principal Laurent Mekies hopes to significantly reduce the current gap of around three and a half to four tenths of a second per lap. At the same time, Red Bull knows that this update alone will not guarantee a return to the top.
“The last step is always the hardest”
Verstappen himself has no illusions about this. “The steps we have taken so far were naturally the easier steps,” explains the Dutchman. For Verstappen, the real challenge still lies ahead for Red Bull.
Small progress is comparatively easy to achieve when you are clearly behind the front. However, the decisive step back to the top is much more difficult. “The last step is always the hardest – the step to really be able to fight for wins again.”
Whether Red Bull will get closer to this goal already in Spielberg, Verstappen deliberately leaves open. “Let’s see if we can do it. I don’t know if it’s possible already this weekend.” Nevertheless, he explicitly praises the work of his team. “The team always gives 100 percent and works with full force to make the car faster.”
At the same time, Verstappen reminds that the competition is also not standing still. “The other teams are constantly bringing new updates.” Therefore, Red Bull must continuously find more performance to reduce the gap step by step. “It was quite clear to see in Barcelona that there is still a gap.”
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The problem is not only in fast corners
Before the Spain weekend, Red Bull had identified the fast corners as the biggest weakness. On tracks with many slow corners like Miami, Montreal, or Monaco, the team still appeared comparatively competitive.
Therefore, Barcelona with its long and fast corner sections was considered an important benchmark. However, the analysis after the race was sobering. Surprisingly, the problems were not exclusively in the fast corners.
“It is a combination of several things that we have to get under control,” explains Verstappen. The engineers had found that the new Red Bull lacks performance in practically all areas. “We know the car is heavy.”
Added to this are insufficient downforce, lack of grip, and need for improvement when running over curbs. “We need more downforce, more grip, and better curb behavior.” Each of these factors can contribute a little. Together, however, they make the difference between a midfield car and a contender for victory.
Future question remains deliberately open
Verstappen was followed particularly closely on a question about his own future. Specifically, it was about how important the impact of the Austria update is for his long-term plans. However, the world champion avoided a direct answer. “I think it is primarily important for us as a team.”
For him, sporting development is the priority. “We want to improve from the point where we started the season to the point where we want to finish it.” Red Bull knows exactly that performance is currently lacking. Therefore, the focus is currently on making the car faster. “That is what everyone on the team wants.”
It became even more interesting when Verstappen was asked if he would reassess his situation if Red Bull were still only the fourth fastest team in the field by the summer break. The Dutchman did not reveal his cards here either. “That is hard to answer at the moment.”
Red Bull needs results
A clear commitment to Red Bull sounds different. At the same time, Verstappen avoided any statement that would have immediately questioned his future. Nevertheless, there is a clear message in his words. “We don’t like being the fourth fastest team.”
That is exactly why the team is currently working intensively on improvements. “We want to be better. That is what we are working on right now.” For Red Bull, therefore, Spielberg is about more than just another update. The new package will not alone decide whether Verstappen can fight for the podium on Sunday.
It could rather be a first indication of whether the team can still credibly convey to its superstar that a return to the top is realistic.
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