Max from Spa on the rear wing, energy management and Dries: 'Potential'
Published on 16 July 2026 by Misha van der Kroon
Max Verstappen was invited by the FIA to attend the official Formula 1 press conference for the international media at Spa-Francorchamps. Afterwards, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion spoke to the Dutch media at the Red Bull Energy Station, home to the Oracle Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls teams.
Following the rear wing issues Max experienced at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone, which both resulted in crashes, the team has reverted to the previous version of the RB22’s rear wing for this weekend in Belgium. Max explains: “I think it’s quite obvious why we’ve done that. The team is doing everything it can to solve those issues. As soon as the new one is ready, we’ll use it. After Silverstone I went home, took some time to relax and reset, and on Wednesday I was back at the Red Bull Racing factory to prepare for the upcoming Grands Prix. The work simply continues.”
Max explains how the partnership came about: “You can recognise quite quickly when someone has something special. Dries has been a big talent for a long time already in go-karting and he’s carried that form into Formula 4. It’s great to be able to help and guide him, together with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, so he can make the right decisions about his future. Through Verstappen Racing Pro Simulation we’ll also support him in the simulator. If I compare Dries to myself when I was 15, he’s already very good on the sim.”
Max continues: “We’re trying to pass on our experience because he’s only 15 years old and there’s still a lot for him to learn. The raw speed is definitely there, you can see that. He has potential. His goal is to reach Formula 1 and we’re going to try and help him achieve that, but in the end Dries is the one who has to get in the car and deliver. It’s an interesting and very exciting project to be part of.”
Naturally, the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, located in the Belgian Ardennes, was also discussed, as managing the power unit’s energy deployment is expected to play a key role this weekend. “Silverstone and Spa are both difficult when it comes to energy management,” Max says. “It changes the way you have to approach certain corners because, for example, you arrive at them more slowly or with less power. As a driver, you can’t really make the difference anymore in the high-speed corners. It’s just something we have to deal with.”
