Max Verstappen has moved to put Red Bull's performance at the Dutch Grand Prix into perspective, arguing the team cannot conjure "magic" solutions to its issues with the RB22.
The four-time drivers' champion was battling illness all weekend at likely his final trip to Zandvoort in F1, with the circuit dropping from the calendar for next season. And he endured a torrid time of things on track too.
Having only been able to muster sixth in the sprint, Verstappen suffered a heavy crash at the final corner on the first racing lap of the grand prix in treacherous conditions, ending his afternoon and bringing out the red flag.
Whilst the Dutchman was okay, it was a disappointing way to bid farewell to his home race.
Upon returning to the paddock, the 28-year-old shared his relief at the off-week before F1 returns at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.
"I've not been feeling well, so I'm just looking forward to a week's break where I can just recover, because I really haven't been feeling good," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.
Reflecting on the situation at the Milton Keynes-based squad, the Red Bull driver, who has recently put pen to paper on an extension until the end of 2030, was keen to stress that underwhelming results were part of the "reality" of the team's current plight — even if Liam Lawson did secure an impressive seventh-place finish as the stand-in for injured Isack Hadjar.
"I wish for more, but you need to be realistic," the 71-time grand prix winner added. "This season we are the fourth-fastest team, so it's not like rocking up to Zandvoort, suddenly we can do some magic things. It's just how it is.
"Other teams have brought upgrades; we haven't. When you're already on the back foot, it puts you even more on the back foot.
"So it's nothing surprising; it's just the reality that we live in."
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!