Max Verstappen Fears Silverstone Will Hurt Red Bull

Max Verstappen believes Silverstone’s characteristics could restrict the potential of Red Bull at the 2026 British Grand Prix because the car risks running short of electrical energy over a complete lap.

Verstappen raised the concern after testing the circuit configuration in the simulator. He explained that the combination of long straights, high-speed corners and limited heavy-braking zones provides fewer opportunities to recover energy compared with the previous round in Austria.

“I love the track but I did a few laps on the simulator, I just started laughing. It felt like a different track to be honest. You barely have battery around the lap. It’s just constantly flat,” Verstappen said of Silverstone Circuit.

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The current power unit formula divides the contribution between the internal combustion engine and the electrical system almost equally. In Austria, major braking events at the end of long straights allowed drivers to recharge the battery, while Silverstone offers fewer comparable areas and is therefore expected to place greater emphasis on energy deployment management.

Red Bull arrives in Britain after demonstrating significant progress at the Red Bull Ring. Verstappen finished second behind George Russell despite suffering a technical problem at the rear of the car during the second half of the race. It was his best result of the season after the latest upgrade package moved the team closer to the pace of Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton also believes Red Bull’s improvement cannot be ignored. The Ferrari driver highlighted the reduction in the car’s weight and the introduction of several upgrades as factors that could make Verstappen a stronger threat during the next phase of the season.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said the team had reduced its deficit from more than one second at the start of the season to within approximately one tenth of the winning pace. However, the British Grand Prix will provide a different test, with Mercedes’ strength in energy recovery and deployment potentially delivering an important advantage at Silverstone.