– What mindset does Max Verstappen take to Spa-Francorchamps – the track he loves the most and which is also his home circuit? The Dutchman is processing two serious accidents, each caused by mechanical failure. Both in qualifying in Austria and in the final phase of the race in Silverstone, the four-time world champion went off because the DRS system did not close.
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Can a driver more easily erase a personal driving error or a technical defect from memory? Riccardo Ceccarelli explains; mental coach and owner of Formula Medicine.
“These are two unpleasant incidents, but I don’t believe Max will go onto the track at Spa-Francorchamps with these thoughts,” reassures Ceccarelli. “He will have demanded guarantees from Red Bull that these incidents will not happen again, so he will have a clear head in Belgium.”
Verstappen fights for nothing
Nevertheless, the situation is unusual for the champion. “Of course, if we think about it carefully, this is, apart from the early phase at Toro Rosso, the first year in which the Dutchman has no chance whatsoever to win a Grand Prix with Red Bull,” Ceccarelli points out.
Photo series: The last 15 retirements of Max Verstappen in Formula 1
The difference to last year is mentally noticeable according to the expert: Last year there was the comeback in the championship, which was then won by Lando Norris with only a two-point lead. And although it seemed like an impossible comeback, Verstappen tried and found extra motivation to be at the front. We even saw him smile when he lost, but for Max it is frustrating not to be a protagonist.”
For Ceccarelli, the recent DRS failures are therefore just the tip of the iceberg: “Apart from the aspects of mechanical reliability, in my opinion, confidence is currently fading. If there is no upward trend, no improvement, there will be a loss of credibility within the team.”
Red Bull must react
The consequence is obvious for the mental coach. Verstappen demands radical solutions internally to guarantee reliability: “Max will have wanted guarantees, even at the cost of returning to a more traditional wing. But someone like him, who wants to win, will look around. Maybe he is willing to wait for a reaction from the team, but if it does not come, he will make his decisions.”
Photo series: Max Verstappen’s crash in the 2026 Australian Formula 1 qualifying
Meanwhile, the driver market at the top seems actually tight. The door at Mercedes is considered definitively closed, as George Russell remains in Brackley. Also, Mark Webber, manager of Oscar Piastri, recently made it clear that the Australian will continue to drive for McLaren.
“It is possible that Verstappen is conducting an internal guerrilla war at Red Bull to provoke a reaction,” Ceccarelli suspects nonetheless. “On paper, the market seems closed, but I don’t believe any of the major protagonists of the world championship can stay out of the relevant action for too long. Either the upswing comes in Milton Keynes, or we will see important changes, regardless of contractual obligations.”
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Only fourth place left
In Formula 1, there have always been strong impulses and tensions, also with regard to media interests and sponsors: “And often solutions are found that ultimately satisfy everyone.”
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The fact is: Red Bull is currently only the fourth top team. This decline in competitiveness follows the dismantling of the most important figures of the team. After the prominent departures of Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko, the next departure is reportedly imminent: Paul Monaghan, the long-time head of race engineers, followed by Giampiero Lambiase.
“We will see rumors to create pressure, because his environment will not stand idly by,” Ceccarelli is sure. “I don’t believe Verstappen will accept two years of anonymity while waiting for the contract to end. Red Bull has accustomed us to quick reactions despite the loss of personnel.”
Personnel changes exacerbate the problem
Nevertheless, the looming loss of Lambiase weighs heavily: “Max will feel the loss of Lambiase: the two have a close relationship. Lambiase is a very calm and thoughtful person but can also stand up to Max. And for a driver with a strong personality like the Dutchman, it is very important to have an engineer who knows how to lead you.”
It remains open whether Verstappen is also actively working behind the scenes on a personnel or structural change in the team. Signs are increasing that Mark Mateschitz Jr. wants to take on a more decisive role.
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“It is obvious to everyone that the team is in constant restructuring after the death of Dietrich Mateschitz,” analyzes Ceccarelli. “There are continuous tectonic shocks from a technical but also managerial perspective. We know that instability sets in when there are many changes in a team. And in this transition phase, big results usually do not come.”
Red Bull under pressure
A quick rebuild is hardly feasible in the top class: “When you rebuild a team in Formula 1, you have to talk about a three-year program. In Milton Keynes, they were good at equipping themselves with a competitive engine right from the debut and showing the ability to take on new challenges, but the feeling is that the recent positive performances are more the fruit of Max’s talent than the potential of the team.”
How things will continue with the champion remains to be seen. Ceccarelli is certain: “It will be interesting to understand what Verstappen wants to do: I don’t see him in park mode for too long.”
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