Why Verstappen expects the British GP to be a 'tougher race' than last weekend

The four-time world champion finally returned to the sharp end during Red Bull's home weekend in Austria, piling the pressure on George Russell until the very end and fighting for victory for the first time this season after an active aerodynamics failure on his RB22 sent him into the barriers in Q3 on Saturday, ruining his chances of challenging for pole.

Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Verstappen said Red Bull heads to Silverstone encouraged by the progress shown in Austria, where the team was finally able to fight at the front again and secure second place.

The Dutchman expects a much different challenge this weekend, pointing to Silverstone's fast layout as a factor that will make energy management more demanding than at previous circuits. He added that the forecasted warmer conditions could also influence the race, while noting that it is always a special weekend for the team given the circuit's proximity to its home base.

Speaking after the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen predicted that Silverstone will present a completely different challenge under the 2026 regulations, with battery management expected to play a decisive role throughout the weekend. After completing simulator laps, the Dutchman was struck by how little battery would be available over the course of a lap, describing the experience as very different from what drivers have been used to at the British circuit.

According to Verstappen, the nature of Silverstone's layout is the main reason. While circuits with long straights and heavy braking zones allow drivers to recover energy, Silverstone's high-speed corners provide far fewer opportunities to recharge the battery.