When Max Verstappen walked into the Purple Bull hospitality on Friday for his Dutch Components 1 media session – which in Azerbaijan, by the way, consisted of simply two Dutch journalists – the message was clear. The Baku Metropolis Circuit supplied Purple Bull its finest alternative to win a race this yr, however Verstappen added: “We’ve performed a terrific job messing it up.”
A day later, he nonetheless got here remarkably near victory. Admittedly, he felt the hole of simply 0.196 seconds on the end line was considerably deceptive resulting from Valtteri Bottas’ crash and George Russell’s enhance concern, however Purple Bull’s race tempo was undeniably good – significantly on the softs.
That was not solely right down to the spectacular prime velocity on the longest straight of the F1 calendar, but in addition to the upgrades Purple Bull launched in Baku. It was the ultimate vital package deal for the RB22 and, based on each drivers, the improve – which included a brand new ground and revised sidepods – delivered what had been hoped for.
Moreover outright efficiency, the improve additionally made each drivers extra comfy within the automotive, not less than on the Baku format.
“Baku is a really particular monitor, with particular tarmac, however the way in which the automotive was behaving by way of through-corner stability this weekend, from lap one in FP1, I used to be like, ‘Okay, that is trying fairly good’,” Isack Hadjar mentioned.
“Then the second half of the automotive [the power unit], we’re positively missing in comparison with Mercedes. However by way of dealing with on the brakes, the automotive was positively a step higher than in Budapest,” Hadjar mentioned, referring to the final race earlier than his wrist harm. “So, yeah, I’m actually happy with that [feeling in the car].”
Verstappen shared that view and felt the boldness to assault the corners that’s so necessary at a monitor like Baku. “Yeah, I imply, it’s a novel monitor. It has primarily 90-degree corners, but it surely most likely felt somewhat bit extra collectively balance-wise,” the Dutchman mentioned.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
“However like I mentioned, we’ve got different points within the automotive that we actually want to repair as a result of there’s simply free lap time in that. That’s what we’re engaged on. However the efficiency objects, they labored effectively and we’ve been pretty completely satisfied all weekend with what I had from the automotive.”
By the issues costing ‘free’ lap time, Verstappen is referring to the ‘automotive degradation’ points and the deployment on {the electrical} facet of the ability unit, which isn’t optimum in contrast with Mercedes.
Regardless of the upgrades from the technical workforce led by Pierre Wache working effectively, Verstappen maintains that the Baku race weekend was Purple Bull’s finest probability of victory in 2026.
That isn’t solely due to the format, but in addition as a result of Mercedes could have its long-awaited improve package deal for the W17 in Malaysia – with an ADUO improve for the ability unit within the pipeline as effectively.
“In the event that they’re bringing an improve to Malaysia, then it’s going to look somewhat bit harder for us,” the four-time world champion mentioned.
“If Mercedes is bringing an improve and it really works, then they’ll take one other step forward, and that’s not what you need. It can make it much more troublesome to win, however we’ll strive each single weekend and, in fact, if the chance is there, we go for it.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: Alex Pantling / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
When Autosport requested Mekies whether or not he sees it the identical manner, or whether or not the race tempo in Baku as an alternative offers him confidence that there can be extra alternatives, the workforce principal responds:
“I feel each statements are appropriate. I feel it is truthful what Max is saying by way of assessing this monitor as, on paper, the one which was favouring us probably the most. So I feel that’s appropriate, it has most likely been probably the most beneficial monitor for us by way of automotive traits.
“Equally I feel that the efficiency we have proven within the race is giving us respectable hope that we’ll get one other couple of events earlier than the tip of the yr.”
Furthermore, Mekies stresses that the remaining race weekends this yr should not solely about securing that much-coveted victory. Not less than as necessary is for Purple Bull to be taught for 2027, ideally permitting it to supply a automotive that may persistently battle on the entrance subsequent season.
Verstappen has already mentioned a number of occasions that sure larger modifications are not doable in 2026, however that they’re essential to mount a championship problem subsequent yr. Mekies acknowledges that and says the remaining race weekends are necessary in that respect as effectively.
“On prime of getting a few different events to get that first win, it is also good to go to tracks the place it’ll be harder for us, as a result of that’s precisely what we should be confronted with to proceed to progress,” he mentioned.
However, a yr with no victory could be exceptional, as it might be the primary time since 2015 for each Verstappen and Purple Bull.
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