Verstappen explains hopes for Red Bull upgrade package at team’s ‘important’ home race in Austria

Max Verstappen has reflected on his and Red Bull’s expectations for the upgrade package that they will run at the Austrian Grand Prix, with the Dutchman admitting that the squad’s home race is always an “important” occasion.

The outfit faced a tough weekend last time out in Barcelona as Verstappen and team mate Isack Hadjar were unable to match the pace of their rivals at the front, leaving Team Principal Laurent Mekies to label the event a “reality check”.

However, with the RB22 set to feature updates at the Red Bull Ring, Verstappen was asked during Thursday’s media day about his hopes for what this might deliver.

“Hopefully of course it will be a bit better – that's what we are aiming for,” the four-time World Champion said. “We hope that it brings a bit more performance to the car, and then we'll see where that lines us up against the others.

“But that's been the story of the season – one week, one team brings upgrades, and then the next week, someone else. It's just a normal process, I guess.”

The weekend marks a special one for Red Bull with it being the team’s home race, while the track is also one at which Verstappen has claimed victory on five occasions.

“It’s always very important,” the 28-year-old commented about the prospect of entering the squad’s home event. “Luckily we've already had a lot of great results here, so we just come into this trying to do the best job we can.

“I know there are always a lot of Dutch fans as well, so it just makes it a very nice and enjoyable weekend, seeing the atmosphere, and then of course we focus on the performance and try to do the best we can.”

The 2025 Austrian Grand Prix was not one to remember for Verstappen, who was forced to retire on the opening lap following a collision with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.

With Antonelli arriving into this year’s event as the championship leader, Verstappen was quizzed on how it feels as a young driver to go up against more experienced names – a position he is familiar with himself after making his debut in the sport at 17 years old.

“At the end of the day, I guess that's also part of life,” he explained. “At one point you hope to be fighting in a title fight, but when you come in young, it's normal that you are then the young gun to fight against the older established people.

“But that's okay – he's doing very well, so there's no need for advice. He knows what he's doing and he's doing that very well, so I think it all looks pretty much under control.”