F1 TODAY: We paid the price’ – Verstappen reflects on detrimental

We paid the price’ – Verstappen reflects on detrimental car issues that impacted Baku race

Max Verstappen endured a challenging Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing fifth despite numerous car issues that hampered his race. While he secured a top-five spot at the last minute, traffic and what he described as an “uncontrollable” car performance significantly affected his day in Baku.

Verstappen’s race benefited from a dramatic penultimate lap collision between his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. This incident allowed the Dutchman to finish fifth, a single position above where he qualified. However, his difficulties on the track were apparent throughout, as he struggled to find consistency with his car’s performance.

The reigning world champion had several on-track battles, most notably with Alex Albon and George Russell, who went on to secure a podium finish. Verstappen’s primary championship rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris, also had the upper hand, finishing fourth and narrowing the gap in the drivers’ standings to 59 points. Despite starting the season on a strong note, Verstappen’s recent form has been less impressive, with just one podium in the last five races, raising concerns about Red Bull’s RB20 and its setup challenges.

Verstappen’s post-race reflections highlighted the persistent problems with his car, which first became evident during a difficult qualifying session. “The car was jumping around a lot in all the low-speed corners,” he explained. “My wheels were literally coming off the ground. Then, of course, you lose contact with the tarmac, which causes you to slide more, overheat the tires, and there was no way to drive around it.”

These issues significantly affected his pace during the race. Verstappen noted that he was forced to pit early and subsequently found himself stuck behind both Alex Albon and Lando Norris. “I was in that fight, George passed me, and then we actually had good pace, the two of us. We were catching the leaders, but as soon as I got close to George, the dirty air made my sliding even worse. It became uncontrollable towards the end.”

In the end, Verstappen’s fifth-place finish, combined with Perez’s unfortunate DNF due to his crash with Sainz, allowed McLaren to outscore Red Bull for the weekend. McLaren claimed 38 points to Red Bull’s 10, tipping the constructors’ championship in their favor by 20 points.

Despite the tough weekend, Verstappen remains optimistic about Red Bull’s prospects moving forward. He pointed out that there were signs of success earlier in the race before Perez’s crash. “We showed good pace before the incident. Checo was on track for his best finish since April, so we know there’s potential in the car.”

When asked whether he was concerned that the car setup might be more suited to his teammate’s driving style, Verstappen dismissed the idea. “No, no, no. I think the changes we made were positive. We were heading in the right direction, but unfortunately, the final adjustments before qualifying tipped it over the edge, and we paid the price for that in the race.”

Verstappen’s optimism suggests that Red Bull could soon find their form again, but the struggles in Baku will no doubt serve as a reminder of the fine margins that define success and failure in Formula 1. With a narrow lead in both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings, the team will need to quickly address the setup issues to keep their championship hopes alive.