Red Bull boss: performance issue is deeply rooted and won't be fixed soon

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has publicly acknowledged that his team is grappling with a deeply rooted technical issue affecting the car's performance during both practice sessions and races. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen had previously described this phenomenon as the car's "degradation."

Mekies confirmed that Verstappen's observations are accurate — the problem is not new and the team has been dealing with it for some time. He noted that the squad has tried several approaches to resolve the issue, but admitted it is a complex technical challenge that has not yet been fully understood or solved.

No quick fix in sight

The team boss indicated that a complete solution is not expected even by the start of next season, meaning the issue will likely continue to affect the team's performance going forward.

Despite these difficulties, the team had some success at the race in Madrid, where Verstappen finished second, a result largely aided by the appearance of a virtual safety car during the race. Still, the driver himself remains skeptical about his chances of fighting for the championship title, as his rivals hold a substantial lead in the standings.

Verstappen has reached the podium six times this season but has yet to record a single victory. He himself stated that he does not currently see himself as being at the level needed to contend for the overall championship.