Max Verstappen Reveals Red Bull Reality After FP2 Australia 2026
Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Max Verstappen admitted the current performance level of Red Bull Racing matched his expectations despite damaging his car during second practice for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit.
The incident occurred late in FP2 when Verstappen experienced a sudden snap of oversteer through Turn 10. The RB22 slid into the gravel after losing rear grip, although the Dutch driver managed to avoid hitting the barriers—an outcome contrasting the heavy crash suffered by Oliver Bearman at the same corner during the 2025 event.
As the car bounced through the gravel trap, several sections of the floor were damaged, leaving significant structural wear underneath the RB22. Despite the issue, Verstappen returned to the circuit and finished the session sixth on the timesheets after completing only 13 laps.
Earlier in the day, the three-time world champion had placed third in the opening practice session, suggesting competitive pace at the start of the weekend. However, the limited running in FP2 prevented Red Bull from completing its full planned setup programme ahead of qualifying.
“We managed to complete a good number of laps in FP1, but in FP2 we encountered a few issues,” said Verstappen.
“We are still working to find the right setup with the car and were struggling a bit with grip. I also went into the gravel during the session.”
“We didn’t have a completely clean day of running, but pace-wise we are roughly where I expected us to be. There is still a lot of work to do, and we will analyse what worked and what we can improve overnight. That is the reality for us at the moment.”
With competitive lap times still possible despite the floor damage, the team will now analyse data overnight before qualifying. The findings will be crucial for Verstappen as he prepares to challenge rivals such as Scuderia Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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