Why Red Bull suffered “hit-and-miss” issues during first test of crucial F1 upgrade

Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion and Red Bull’s lead driver, described the car’s performance as "hit-and-miss" after finishing fourth in both Free Practice 1 (FP1) and Free Practice 2 (FP2). He lagged more than half a second behind Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli, who topped the second session, underscoring the challenges Red Bull encountered on their home track. The initial telemetry and driver feedback indicated that the extensive upgrade package, featuring a revised floor, updated sidepods, and a focus on weight reduction, had yet to yield its intended performance gains.

Verstappen’s primary concern, relayed frequently over team radio, centered on a peculiar power unit anomaly at Turn 3 of the Red Bull Ring. The engine was reportedly losing revs precisely at the apex of the corner, compelling drivers to momentarily wait for the power unit to re-engage before applying throttle. This inconsistent power delivery made the car unpredictable and difficult to drive, severely hampering both performance and driver confidence.

"It’s like the rears are grabbing, locking up and you lose all the support. It’s not a linear grip, it’s not nice. You’re constantly guessing the grip," Verstappen explained to reporters after the sessions. "And then once you go back on throttle, the engine has to catch up and it creates wheelspin on the exit. It’s really, really poor. Just in this corner, I don’t know how much we’re losing, but it really feels bad." His sentiment was echoed by Isack Hadjar, a Red Bull junior driver who also participated in practice, providing a similar assessment of the car’s inconsistent behaviour. Hadjar’s presence in an FP1 session for the senior team, a common practice to give young talents experience, meant his feedback on the RB22’s characteristics was also vital.

Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Wache, acknowledged the severity of the engine-related problem, confirming it as a critical area requiring immediate attention before Saturday’s crucial qualifying session. "We clearly have an issue there on how we manage the engine and how the car is operating," Wache stated. "That is something that we have to fix or try to get away from it." The revelation that Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team, has been contending with similar engine issues for an extended period, as disclosed by their driver Arvid Lindblad, added a layer of concern. This marked the first instance of such a significant power unit-related drivability problem affecting the senior Red Bull outfit, raising questions about the integration of the engine mapping with the new aerodynamic package.

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Beyond the specific engine glitch, both Verstappen and Hadjar reported general dissatisfaction with the RB22’s overall balance. This lack of equilibrium, according to Wache, is a common occurrence when a team introduces a substantial upgrade package. Significant changes to the car’s aerodynamics and weight distribution inherently alter its fundamental characteristics, rendering previous setup data less relevant.

"It’s every time the same problem. When you change a lot on the car, the characteristics are changing a little bit, and the balance is changing," Wache elaborated. "Then you have to see how the sensitivity of each set-up element is playing a role in the request from the drivers and what is needed for them. That is clearly something that we have to learn from FP2 and try to improve for FP3 and qualifying." The compressed nature of an F1 weekend, with limited practice time before competitive sessions, means the team faces a race against the clock to understand and optimise the new configuration.

Hadjar further emphasized that the true performance benefit of the comprehensive upgrade – which includes significant revisions to the car’s underbody and bodywork, aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency and overall downforce – remains obscured by the current setup woes. "So far, it just seems like it’s hard to extract the most of it because we’re completely off balance and we’re struggling a lot. So there’s a lot of digging to do tonight," the French driver remarked, highlighting the extensive data analysis and simulation work facing the engineers overnight.

Despite the initial setbacks, Red Bull remains confident in the inherent value of the upgrade. Wache reaffirmed his belief that the new package represents a tangible step forward for the RB22. "What we see is clearly a better package than what we had previously in terms of weight and in terms of downforce," he asserted. "But to see exactly the downforce levels that we can achieve, we will see more during the night and tomorrow morning."

Team principal Laurent Mekies had previously articulated the team’s ambitions for the upgrade, hoping it would reduce their current deficit to leading competitors from an estimated four to five tenths of a second down to a more manageable two to three tenths. Such a reduction would be critical for Red Bull’s championship aspirations, particularly as the competitive landscape in Formula 1 continues to tighten. Verstappen, currently leading the Drivers’ Championship, faces increasing pressure from rivals, making every tenth of a second vital in the relentless development race. The Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull’s home race at the scenic Red Bull Ring, adds an extra layer of expectation for a strong performance.

An additional, albeit currently unrealized, benefit of the new package, according to Hadjar, is an expected improvement in driveability once a more harmonious balance can be achieved. "It felt way better in FP2, so that’s good news, but it’s not where we want to be," Hadjar noted, indicating some progress was made between sessions. "At least it’s a lot easier to drive, so the performance should come tomorrow a bit easier than usual. So that’s good, but the car is definitely not where we want it in terms of set-up."

The team’s engineers will work through the night, analysing gigabytes of data from Friday’s sessions, running simulations, and making crucial setup adjustments. The goal for Saturday morning’s Free Practice 3 will be to validate these changes and establish a more stable and predictable platform for qualifying. The ability to quickly adapt and optimize the new package will be paramount for Red Bull to recover from a challenging start and position themselves competitively for the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying and Sunday’s race. The "hit-and-miss" issues of Friday underscore the inherent difficulties in introducing major upgrades mid-season and the fine margins that define success in modern Formula 1.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.

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