Red Bull Racing endures worst streak since Verstappen’s arrival

Red Bull last won at the end of 2025. Verstappen closed that season with victories in the United States, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, finishing just two points behind world champion Lando Norris. Since then, Red Bull has gone through all 14 races of the 2026 season before Baku without a win. Heading into the weekend, it was the only team among the top four in the constructors’ championship yet to win this year.

From pole position, Russell led the opening 30 laps unchallenged. On lap 31 of 51, Alex Albon crashed his Williams, bringing out the Safety Car. At the restart, Franco Colapinto braked too late and hit Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly, who in turn collected Norris. All three retired, prompting a second Safety Car period. By then, Verstappen had moved ahead of Oscar Piastri into second place.

Over the final 13 laps, Verstappen relentlessly pursued Russell. The Dutchman set the fastest lap as he closed in, but Russell held on, crossing the line 0.196 seconds ahead. It was the eighth win of Russell’s career and his third of the season. The result leaves him 66 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who recovered from P16 to finish fifth.

The eighth-place start in Baku was due to an engine issue in qualifying. Verstappen himself called it a recurring pattern, as previously reported by GPblog. It was not the first time this year that a power-unit problem has cost him a strong result. In Monaco, Verstappen lined up second on the grid, but his engine cut out completely at the start.

Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed it was an engine problem, which had developed on the formation lap and could not be fixed. It involved Verstappen’s first power unit of the season, which had already been scheduled for replacement after Monaco.

At Silverstone in July, problems struck again. After qualifying, Verstappen complained that he lacked straight-line speed and wanted the power unit changed, but the team kept it in the car. Verstappen was blunt: “There’s really no point racing like this tomorrow if we leave the car the same.” His race later ended in the gravel, although that was caused by a rear wing that failed to close properly.

There is more at stake for Red Bull in the final part of the season than simply adding a few podiums. If 2026 ends without a victory, it would mark the first season since 2015 in which both Red Bull and Verstappen have failed to win a Grand Prix.

The team’s form has improved in recent weeks, with Verstappen finishing on the podium in five of the seven races before Baku. However, Red Bull is not expecting a late surge like the one it enjoyed in 2025. The team brought its final major upgrade of 2026 to Baku and is saving most of its remaining budget for the 2027 car.