Verstappen warned over one key flaw: 'There are also negative sides'

After an extraordinary title comeback that would have gone down as one of the greatest in Formula 1 history, Verstappen and Red Bull started the 2026 season with a clean slate. The introduction of the new regulations brought a completely redesigned car, while the campaign also marked the debut of the team's first in-house power unit, developed at Milton Keynes with technical support from Ford.

So far, however, the four-time world champion's 2026 campaign has been marked by ups and downs. While he has claimed four podium finishes, a series of technical issues and results that have fallen short of those delivered by Red Bull's main rivals have left him sixth in the drivers' championship heading into the summer break.

Speaking to De Telegraaf, Albers acknowledged that Verstappen's honesty is one of his greatest strengths, but believes it can also work against him at times. While he appreciates the Dutchman's willingness to speak openly when things are not going well, he feels Verstappen can become so focused on his own expectations that he overlooks the fact every driver is chasing the same goal, even without having the fastest car.

When asked whether Verstappen should be doing more to defend the team, Albers said: “I do think that a little bit as well. You can see it with Adrian Newey too. You cannot simply create a basic package from nothing. You have to work with the material you have. I can understand that you become frustrated if they are not moving in the direction you have in mind. On the other hand, there are a thousand people working at the factory and perhaps seven hundred of them want to move in the same direction as you.”

Juan Pablo Montoya believes Verstappen has no plans to walk away from Red Bull, despite the team losing several influential figures who played a key role in establishing its dominance before moving on to new challenges.

In his view, Verstappen still considers Red Bull one of the strongest teams on the Formula 1 grid and remains confident it has what it takes to fight at the front again. Montoya also believes the Dutchman is deliberately putting pressure on the team through his comments, hoping to drive improvements and help Red Bull return to championship-winning form.