RED BULL “STILL HAVE TOO MANY ISSUES” TO FIGHT FOR TITLE THIS YEAR – VERSTAPPEN

Max Verstappen finished a strong second in Austria, just two seconds behind George Russell, yet he remains unconvinced Red Bull can mount a championship challenge this season. Despite their upgraded car showing its best performance, with Verstappen feeling he could "actually fight for the win," a mid-race rear-end issue on his car ultimately stalled his pursuit. He sits 98 points behind championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a significant deficit with much of the season still to run.

Verstappen's concerns extend beyond pure pace; he believes Red Bull lacks "all-round" solidity. He pointed to "too many issues, from the starts to just procedural issues in the background" that require immediate attention. For Red Bull to become truly "rock solid" again and compete for the title, these underlying operational problems must be solved. Their ability to deliver consistent, problem-free weekends will determine if they can close the championship gap.