Max Verstappen eager for Red Bull understanding after race-defining change

Max Verstappen is eager for Red Bull to understand a race-defining moment during the Austrian Grand Prix, when the feeling of his car suddenly changed.

The four-time world champion was in excellent form at the Red Bull Ring, with the team's major upgrade package appearing to have an immediate effect.

He was a genuine contender for pole position before a rear-wing issue caused him to crash at Turn 9 on his final flying lap, leaving Verstappen to start fifth.

Verstappen made quick progress at Red Bull's home race and moved into second after an excellent battle with Lewis Hamilton, with the Dutchman having demonstrated exceptional speed during his first stint.

It put him into victory contention after he closed to within 1.5 seconds of eventual race winner George Russell; however, Verstappen's RB22 felt very different from the middle of the race onwards.

His rapid pace stabilised and pushing suddenly became more difficult, with the 28-year-old revealing after the race that the rear of the car felt completely different, something he wants the team to understand.

"I think what was satisfying is that this was the first time I felt like actually I could fight for the win," said Verstappen. "I do think that the first half of the race, we were more competitive, because for whatever reason in the second half, something felt off on the rear of the car, where everything was just extremely difficult, from bumps, kerbs, traction, it was just completely gone. 

"So that’s something that we need to understand again, what went wrong there. But yes, the first half I felt really good. I mean, I was closing the gap even after the battles that I had with Lewis. It was cool, but it made us of course lose quite a bit of time. 

"So yeah, every time catching up. But then in the middle of the second stint, something happened with the car on the rear axle, which made me lose pace, and that just stayed there until the end. So that’s a bit of a shame. 

"But still, to be that close to a win, I think is great effort from the team. They have worked really hard to get these upgrades on the car here, and this is the first time, I think, in the race where I felt really competitive. 

"And I could push a bit more. So that is definitely the positive, I think, of this weekend."