Max Verstappen is pinning his hopes on a technical upgrade to drag Red Bull back into contention at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend — and on their own home soil, no less. The four-time world champion believes the new package arriving in Spielberg could be the jolt the team desperately needs after a bruising run of form.
Austrian Grand Prix: Verstappen’s New Package Could Be a Game-Changer
It has been a rough stretch for the Milton Keynes outfit. Verstappen didn’t even get off the grid in Monaco after a power unit failure, then scraped his way to fourth in Barcelona — a race that belonged entirely to Lewis Hamilton, who delivered Ferrari their first Grand Prix victory of this era ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris in a remarkable all-British podium. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli’s late retirement only added to the drama. Meanwhile, Red Bull sit fourth in the constructors’ standings, well adrift of McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
Still, Verstappen isn’t throwing in the towel. Writing on formula1.com, he said: “We have a new package we are bringing, so it is exciting to see how much this could look to give us in lap time.” That kind of measured optimism from a driver of his calibre carries weight. Austria has historically been kind to him, and he knows that circuit inside out.
Red Bull Chase Both High-Speed and Low-Speed Balance Around Spielberg
Of course, the Red Bull Ring is no one-trick pony. Verstappen was quick to point out that the layout demands a very specific setup — you need to nail the high-speed stuff, carry low-speed traction, and increasingly manage energy deployment across every lap. “All of the corners are quite different, so it is really important to get a good balance out of the car,” he added. That complexity makes it genuinely fascinating to see how the upgraded RB package measures up against the pace of Ferrari and Mercedes, who once again arrive as the cars to beat.
Ultimately, this weekend feels like a pivotal moment for Red Bull’s 2025 campaign. The gap in the constructors’ standings is uncomfortable, and the pressure is building. But if Spielberg’s history has taught us anything, it’s that Verstappen has a habit of rising to the occasion on this particular patch of tarmac. Whether the new package delivers remains to be seen — but don’t bet against him making some noise on home turf.