Red Bull rushes to fix Verstappen’s RB22

The Verstappen Austria crash in Q3 qualifying sent shockwaves through the paddock on Saturday. The 28-year-old Dutchman was on his final flying lap in Q3 when he lost control of his car in Turn 9 and spun into the gravel and then a barrier. The Verstappen Austria crash meant Red Bull then faced a frantic race to repair the RB22 in time for Sunday’s race, with the team’s mechanics working flat out through the night and into race morning to get the car ready. And to make things worse, the team itself admitted the Verstappen Austria crash was their fault.

What Caused the Verstappen Austria Crash?

This was not a simple driver error. Red Bull found rear aerodynamic damage on the RB22 that caused a sudden and complete loss of rear downforce as Verstappen turned into Turn 9 at the Red Bull Ring.

This incident highlights the risks involved in motorsport, particularly during qualifying sessions like the Verstappen Austria crash.

Verstappen said the trouble had already started before the final corner. “In Turn 6 I had a very weird snap on entry, because that’s basically the second highest speed corner. And then when I went into Turn 9, as soon as I turned the wheel I was gone. It felt like a bit of a lack of some downforce or oversteer.”

These factors contributed to the chaos that led to the Verstappen Austria crash, showing how quickly things can change on track.

Immediately after the impact, race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase told Verstappen over the team radio: “I will check the rear wing, maybe a delay on the rear wing.” That turned out to be very close to the truth.

Just before Turn 9 there is an SM zone, where the active aerodynamics are deployed. Photographs show that the rear wing had closed again by the time of the impact, but Verstappen said he was lacking rear downforce at the moment he turned into the corner. You can read more about how the crash unfolded in our full breakdown: Verstappen Austria Qualifying Crash Explained: ‘As I Turned the Wheel, I Was Gone’.

The implications of the Verstappen Austria crash were felt throughout the team, affecting their strategy moving forward.

Red Bull Apologise and Take Full Blame

Team principal Laurent Mekies did not try to hide from responsibility. “The most important thing after this eventful qualifying session is that Max is okay,” said Mekies. “He delivered an excellent first run in Q3, and his final run was very fast until he lost the car in Turn 9. The dynamic of the incident was quite unusual, and we lost aero performance on the rear of the car, and it gave Max no chance to survive. As a team, we take full responsibility for it and apologise to him.”

After the Verstappen Austria crash, the team was forced to reassess their approach for the remainder of the weekend.

Verstappen added that the damage to the RB22 is limited, meaning the crash should have no implications for Sunday’s race. That was welcome news for the team’s mechanics, who were tasked with getting the car race-ready in time. Verstappen was unhurt in the accident, but it did ruin his chances of challenging for pole at Red Bull’s home race. He will start Sunday’s race from P5 on the grid.

This news was a relief considering the ramifications of the Verstappen Austria crash and the impact it had on their qualifying performance.

The crash also had a big knock-on effect in the rest of qualifying. Verstappen’s crash at the final pair of corners brought out yellow flags, which Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli mistakenly thought were double-waved yellow flags and aborted his lap. However, his teammate George Russell noticed it was just a single yellow and lifted through the yellows. George Russell improved his time and was briefly under investigation, but the stewards soon ruled that his time would stand. Read more about this at our piece on Austrian GP Pole: Russell Takes Controversial P1 After Verstappen Q3 Crash.

The Verstappen Austria crash created a ripple effect that influenced other drivers’ strategies during the session.

A Weekend of Challenges for Red Bull

The Q3 crash was not the only problem Red Bull faced in Austria. On Friday, both drivers complained about a power unit issue in Turn 3, more specifically a loss of RPM at the apex. In addition, the car’s balance was not where the team wanted it to be on Friday.

Leading up to the Verstappen Austria crash, the team had identified several areas of concern during their preparations.

That said, Red Bull brought their biggest upgrade package of the 2026 season to the Red Bull Ring. Red Bull’s vast upgrade package, including additions to the suspension aerodynamics, floor, and sidepods, are all aimed at bringing the RB22 much closer to those top-three teams. Red Bull has finally succeeded in bringing the car down to the minimum weight limit after fielding an overweight car for the season so far.

Balance was also not where the team wanted it before qualifying, despite progress before parc ferme. Mekies said Red Bull is still understanding its major upgrade package, calling the improved pace an encouraging first step rather than a finished product. There are bigger questions about Verstappen’s future too. Check out our analysis on Verstappen hints at Red Bull’s 2027 conditions for the full picture.

The Verstappen Austria crash added to the challenges Red Bull faced as they navigated through an intense race weekend.

Extreme Heat Adds More Pressure for the Race

Given the conditions, the team was anxious to ensure that past incidents, like the Verstappen Austria crash, would not be repeated.

Red Bull’s mechanics are not the only ones sweating. The Austrian GP race weather forecast points to a hot, dry and physically demanding afternoon at the Red Bull Ring. The race starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday, June 28, and air temperatures are expected to be around 34°C when the lights go out.

Heat could increase tyre degradation, make cooling more difficult and put extra strain on brakes, power units and drivers across the 71-lap race. Teams cannot rely on a major temperature drop to help tyre life. Even if cloud cover prevents direct sunlight from dominating every lap, the surface temperature is still expected to be high enough to increase thermal degradation and make tyre management central to race strategy.

Can Verstappen Charge from P5?

Starting fifth is not ideal, but it is not a disaster either. Verstappen admitted that, even without the crash, he would not have been able to fight for pole position, but believes he would have finished third behind both Mercedes drivers. From P5, he still has a genuine shot at the podium if Red Bull’s race pace matches their qualifying speed.

Despite the setback of the Verstappen Austria crash, he is determined to make the most of his starting position.

The heat, the tyre strategy and the chaos that often comes with it at Spielberg could all work in his favour. And if the newly upgraded RB22 holds together cleanly, Verstappen will be pushing hard from the first lap. Keep an eye on our Red Bull Apologise as Verstappen Austria Crash Health Update Issued After Q3 Incident page for the latest updates through race day.

All eyes will be on Verstappen, especially after the events of the Verstappen Austria crash, as he aims for a strong finish.