Max Verstappen and Red Bull surprise themselves with stunning Austrian GP result

Max Verstappen admitted Red Bull's performance in the Austrian Grand Prix exceeded expectations after recovering from fifth on the grid to finish a close second behind George Russell.

The four-time F1 drivers' champion crossed the line just 1.6 seconds behind the Mercedes driver, securing 18 valuable championship points and delivering the first real indication that Red Bull's latest upgrade package could be moving the team back towards the front.

"It went even better than expected in the race, I have to say," Verstappen reflected afterwards. "That's definitely a positive."

The result came as something of a surprise, given how difficult the weekend had been. Verstappen's Friday practice was disrupted after his RB22 stopped in the pit lane twice during the opening session, before his qualifying hopes were compromised by a crash that left him starting only fifth.

The problems did not disappear on Sunday either. Throughout the race, Verstappen continued to battle brake issues and once again complained about instability from the rear of the car. At one stage, he reported that the rear suspension was no longer working as intended, costing him valuable lap time during the middle phase of the race.

Despite those setbacks, the overall mood within Red Bull was overwhelmingly positive.

The team's upgrade package arrived in Spielberg carrying significant expectations, and although it has not cured every weakness of the RB22, the increase in outright pace was clear. Even rival teams noticed the step forward, with Lewis Hamilton suggesting Red Bull had gained as much as four or five tenths through the latest developments.

That is a significant gain under Formula 1's current regulations, where finding even a couple of tenths can dramatically alter the competitive order.

Silverstone presents a different challenge

Whether Red Bull has genuinely turned a corner will become clearer next weekend at Silverstone.

The Red Bull Ring's layout, with its long straights and heavy braking zones, has traditionally suited the characteristics of the RB22. However, Verstappen still appeared to lose ground to Mercedes through the circuit's faster corners – an area that will be far more important at Silverstone, where high-speed aerodynamic performance is critical.

There is also the reality that new upgrade packages rarely deliver their full potential immediately. Teams often need a race or two to fully understand new components, particularly under Formula 1's current technical regulations, where small setup changes can unlock considerably more performance.

Verstappen was not the only Red Bull driver to encounter teething problems. Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar also struggled with a series of minor issues throughout the weekend, with brake-related problems proving especially persistent.

That leaves Red Bull with plenty of analysis to complete before the British Grand Prix. While there is still work to do before Verstappen has a car capable of consistently fighting for victories, Austria offered the clearest evidence yet that the Milton Keynes-based team is heading in the right direction.

The gap to the top step of the podium appears to be closing.