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Red Bull gives bad news to Max Verstappen

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Red Bull fears it is lagging behind its rivals just weeks before the start of the Formula 1 World Championship, scheduled for March 8 in Melbourne, Australia. According to the Milton Keynes-based team’s technical director Pierre Waché, at least three teams would be ahead.

“We’re not the benchmark, that’s for sure – were Waché’s clear words at the press conference -. Our analysis clearly shows that three top teams are ahead of us: Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren. We are behind them. But it is difficult to say anything about the others because each is following different testing plans with different fuel and energy consumption”.

SportalFormula 1 kicks off: salaries of the 10 highest paid drivers in 2026

The Formula 1 World Championship is about to restart: the salaries of the 10 highest paid drivers in 2026. Source RacingNews365
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): $12 million. The Canadian driver is in his sixth season with the British team
Alex Albon (Williams): $12 million. The Thai is in his fifth consecutive year at Williams
Pierre Gasly (Alpine): $12.5 million. The French driver moved to Alpine in 2023
Oscar Piastri (McLaren): $13 million. The'Australian finished third last season
Carlos Sainz (Williams): $13 million for the'former Ferrarista, at Williams since last season
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): $20 million. The Spanish two-time world champion driver is the most experienced on the grid
Lando Norris (McLaren): $30 million. The world champion is only fifth in this special ranking
George Russell (Mercedes): $34 million. The British driver goes after his first world title this season
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): $34 million. The Monegasque wants to break the curse of the Italian stable, which has not won a drivers’ title since 2007
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): $60 million. After last season’s disappointments, the British driver wants to redeem himself
Max Verstappen (Red Bull): $70 million. Lavish contract for the four-time world champion, who finished second in 2025

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The second phase of testing, also scheduled in Bahrain from Feb. 18, could provide clearer indications: “There is no point in wasting time with hierarchies, we need to focus on improving our results. Ferrari and Mercedes seem very strong in terms of low-speed traction: mastering slow corners could be the key to success with the new regulations”.

“Their top speeds are also interesting, especially with a low fuel load– stressed Waché. As for the RB22, we notice obvious weaknesses in the car and link them to the feedback we get from Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar on the single-seater”.

Waché also refers to “tough challenges with the weight” which has been reduced by the FIA this season: “Like all the other teams, we are trying to reduce it, and at the moment other teams may have done a better job than us”.

Max Verstappen in recent days had complained about the new regulations: “At some tracks we will be forced to lift our foot on the straights to manage the energy. In Melbourne, in Monza for example. Not so much in Mexico because the air is very thin and you brake a lot. But obviously on that long straight yes, you have to lift your foot. It makes me laugh, but it doesn”t make sense.

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