The Dutchman, who has won three times at home, could only manage sixth in sprint qualifying. Verstappen signed a multi year contract with Red Bull until 2030, but the RB22 still isn't at Mercedes' level.
Max Verstappen has admitted that he and Red Bull "need to understand" why they struggled with car balance in sprint qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix. The local driver could only manage sixth position on the starting grid for the sprint race: "I guess we beat one car, but yes, it was a bit tricky to find grip and balance" declared Verstappen at the end of a session in which he never felt completely comfortable at the wheel of the RB22.
The four time world champion returned from the summer break as the center of attention in the Zandvoort paddock, having announced a multi year contract that will keep him at Red Bull until the end of the 2030 season. The new deal comes after the team has found more performance with the new 2026 regulations, with Verstappen adding three podiums in the last four races. However, the Dutchman is still without a win so far this season, something that in previous years was unthinkable for a driver of his caliber.
Despite his previous success at home on three occasions (2021, 2022 and 2023), Verstappen seems to be playing catch up this weekend. After only one hour of practice, the Dutchman could only qualify sixth for Saturday's sprint, more than half a second behind polesitter George Russell (Mercedes): "It was already a step forward from FP1, but of course there's still a bit missing to be further up" he explained.
The Dutchman acknowledged that the team needs to work on car balance: "It's something we need to understand. Now, what can we do with the balance for tomorrow to find a bit more grip, a bit of balance, a bit of grip, to close the gap" he stated.
Verstappen was cautious about his chances for the rest of the weekend. His best result in a sprint this season was fifth place in Miami, and generally he and the team have found good performance ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix. When asked if that gives him confidence for the rest of the weekend, Verstappen replied: "Hit or miss, but let's see what we can find. I can't say right now."
Verstappen's lack of pace at Zandvoort is worrying for Red Bull. The Austrian team needs to recover lost ground if it wants to fight for the championship. Mercedes has been the dominant team in the first half of the season, and Verstappen knows he needs a more competitive car to fight for wins. Qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix will be the definitive test. Verstappen trusts that the team can find the necessary improvements to be closer to the leaders: "Hit or miss, but let's see what we can find" he repeated.
The second half of the season will be crucial for Verstappen and Red Bull. The Dutchman needs to score wins if he wants to keep his championship options alive. The Austrian team trusts that the upgrades to the car and Verstappen's talent will allow them to take a step forward.
The Dutch fans, who always fill the Zandvoort grandstands, hope their local hero can spring a surprise, although the outlook is not the most encouraging. Verstappen, however, does not give up and trusts that the team can find solutions for Sunday.
