Max Verstappen was left frustrated after qualifying seventh for the Dutch Grand Prix, revealing that major set-up changes to his Red Bull RB22 made virtually no difference to the car’s behaviour. Adding to the four-time world champion’s difficult home weekend at Zandvoort, he is also feeling physically unwell and lacking his usual energy.
The summer break and Max Verstappen’s lucrative new Red Bull contract were two major developments for the Dutchman, but neither has changed the competitive picture surrounding the RB22. In front of his home supporters, Verstappen could manage only seventh in qualifying and will start Sunday’s race from the fourth row alongside his new temporary team-mate Liam Lawson.
Max Verstappen struggling physically at Dutch GP
As if Red Bull’s performance difficulties were not enough, Max Verstappen revealed that he has not been feeling well during the Zandvoort weekend. The Dutch driver said he is short of physical energy and feels as though he has flu-like symptoms, although fortunately the problem appears to disappear once he gets behind the wheel.
“I’ve felt better than this, yes. I feel a little bit like I’ve got the flu and I just don’t have the same energy as usual. I don’t think it’s affecting the performance on track, though. Once I get into the car, I actually feel fine.”
It adds another complication to an already demanding home event for Max Verstappen, who had also struggled for grip on Friday and could manage only sixth in Sprint Qualifying.
Major Red Bull RB22 changes make almost no difference
After a complicated Friday, Red Bull decided to make a significant change to the set-up of Verstappen’s RB22 in an attempt to give him a better balance. Despite the scale of the adjustments, however, Verstappen said the car felt almost exactly the same.
“The changes didn’t help much. We changed one big thing, but in the end the feeling was still the same.”
“We changed quite a lot on the car, but it made no difference. So the balance was basically the same as I’ve had all weekend. It didn’t really allow me to push or feel comfortable with the car. So in the end, this is the position we’re in.”
The qualifying result continued a difficult weekend that had already seen Verstappen struggle with grip and balance in Sprint Qualifying. It also comes immediately after Red Bull confirmed Max Verstappen’s contract extension through 2030.
Verstappen doubts rain would have transformed Red Bull pace
Heavy rain arrived at Zandvoort just after the chequered flag brought Dutch Grand Prix qualifying to an end. Given Max Verstappen’s renowned ability in wet conditions, the change in weather might ordinarily have represented an opportunity for the home favourite.
However, with the RB22 lacking outright speed throughout the weekend, Verstappen doubted that a wet Q3 would have significantly changed the outcome.
“It’s difficult to say how Q3 would have gone on a wet track. I don’t know how the car works in the rain. Normally I’m strong in the wet, but it doesn’t change anything. We’re simply too slow and tomorrow, if it’s dry, we’d still be too slow.”
“For tomorrow… it’s difficult to say how we’ll go because we’re lacking speed,” Max Verstappen concluded.
That assessment leaves Red Bull with a significant challenge before the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The circuit’s demanding layout already places a premium on finding the correct balance, as outlined in the 2026 Dutch GP set-up and tyre preview, but Verstappen’s comments suggest the team’s current problem goes beyond a simple fine-tuning exercise.
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