Max Verstappen believes Red Bull has taken another step forward with its latest RB22 upgrades despite Mercedes dominating Thursday practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Dutchman finished third in FP2 after taking second place in the opening session, establishing himself as the leading challenger to the two Mercedes drivers in Baku.
The W17 dictated the pace around the street circuit, leaving even Max Verstappen with a substantial deficit. He finished around four tenths away from the benchmark in FP1 and more than eight tenths behind George Russell in FP2. Even so, the four-time World Champion was the only non-Mercedes driver to end the second session within one second of the fastest lap.
Max Verstappen emerges as Mercedes’ closest Baku rival
Max Verstappen’s overall assessment of Thursday was therefore positive. The Red Bull driver appeared comfortable with the RB22 from his opening laps and even moved to the top of the timesheets during the early stages of FP2 while running on the medium tyres.
The switch to the soft compound subsequently highlighted Mercedes’ superior single-lap pace, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli moving clear at the top. Verstappen nevertheless remained satisfied with the handling of his car and, importantly, with the performance of the new components Red Bull introduced for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Verstappen says Red Bull upgrades worked as expected
“Actually, it was quite a positive day,” Max Verstappen said. “I’m pretty happy with the car.
“We’ll need to fine-tune a few things and try to improve the lap time a little more. But overall, it was a good start, and the upgrades behaved as we expected.”
That response will provide encouragement for Red Bull after the team arrived in Baku with further revisions aimed at improving the difficult RB22. Although Mercedes currently appears to have the stronger package over one lap, Verstappen’s immediate confidence suggests Red Bull has at least moved in the intended direction.
Verstappen continues strong run despite remaining winless in 2026
Max Verstappen has yet to win a Grand Prix this season, but his recent run of results has been increasingly positive. The Dutchman has collected four podium finishes across the last five races, allowing him to remain a regular presence near the front despite Mercedes’ strength.
That consistency could become particularly valuable if either George Russell or championship leader Kimi Antonelli encounters problems. Mercedes has established a commanding position in 2026, reflected in the latest Formula 1 drivers’ standings, but Verstappen remains well placed to capitalise whenever an opportunity emerges.
Baku therefore began with Mercedes clearly ahead on outright pace, but Red Bull can still take encouragement from its opening day. Verstappen’s confidence in the updated RB22 gives the team a platform to build on before qualifying, even if further performance will be required to challenge the W17s directly.
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