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Max Verstappen is currently enduring his least competitive start to an F1 campaign since 2018, with one of the leading issues coming in the form of extra weight on the RB22 that Red Bull engineers can’t seem to shake.
As well as the brand-new engine formula and aerodynamic amendments, the 2026 F1 technical regulations also saw the minimum weight restrictions decrease from 800kg last year to 768kg.
What’s gone wrong for Red Bull?
At the time of writing, only McLaren, Alpine and Audi have managed to nail the weight of their 2026 F1 car on the head, with the majority of teams still aiming to cut some mass as the development race ensues.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Williams, who are understood to be around 27kg over the minimum, a long way above the next heaviest car: the Red Bull RB22.
Red Bull will not be able to reduce the weight of their RB22 until the summer
Max Verstappen’s F1 car is reported to be over 10kg above the minimum weight, which is suggested to add around two to three tenths onto each of his lap times.
While it wouldn’t immediately bump the Austrian constructor to the top of the field, hovering around the lower boundary would allow for a lot more flexibility in race-day set-up and improve the overall drivability of the RB22.
Engineers would be able to experiment with tacking on ballast where they see fit to aid Verstappen’s qualms with car balance, which could lead to further improvements with tyre degradation and fuel consumption.
However, a quick fix is unlikely to take shape anytime soon for the 71-time Grand Prix winner. According to a report from F1 Insider, Red Bull aren’t expected to shed the excess weight on the RB22 until summer at the very least.
Ouch. How long will Red Bull need to catch Mercedes?
The job would require engineers to shed weight from the car while not upsetting the overall design philosophy of the chassis department.
With Red Bull also now a fully-fledged works team, it’s even more crucial that they can extract the maximum amount of potential from their own power unit by ensuring that it works seamlessly with the aerodynamic package around it.
- READ MORE: Red Bull are ‘convinced’ their 2026 F1 engine is on par with Mercedes as chassis issues persist
Laurent Mekies admits Red Bull engineers still don’t understand some aspects of the RB22
Following a difficult first day at Suzuka, Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies gave a candid assessment of the team’s struggles in 2026.
He told reporters inside the Japanese Grand Prix paddock via F1 Insider, “We are far behind, we are seriously lacking in performance. We haven’t managed to give the drivers a car they can push to the limit.
“The car looks especially bad in the high-speed corners. There are a few aspects we still don’t understand.”
During the final free practice session of the weekend, Verstappen’s frustrations with the RB22 were clear to see once again.
The Dutchman drew an issue with the downshifts he was experiencing as he closed out the session with the eighth fastest time of the hour.
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