Why Max Verstappen isn’t falling for the excitement surrounding a Red Bull shock in Madrid

When Max Verstappen was questioned during the Dutch media session at Monza about the possibility of not winning a single race this Formula 1 season – a scenario that hasn’t occurred since his rookie year in 2015 – his response was revealing:

"I'm certainly not going to voice that publicly!"

Last year, though, Verstappen did express such a thought, and it seemingly paid off. Following that admission, the Red Bull driver secured a spot on the podium in every grand prix during the latter half of the season, ultimately falling just two points shy of clinching a fifth consecutive world championship.

Verstappen is acutely aware, however, that this year's circumstances are entirely different and that a change in fortune seems nearly impossible. The prospect of finishing a season without a victory, for the first time in over a decade, is thus a plausible scenario.

"Every time I’m in the car, I always strive for the maximum. If the opportunity arises to win a race, then naturally I’ll go all out for it. But given the current situation, that chance isn’t particularly high."

A new circuit introduces further uncertainties, and focus quickly shifts to exceptional talents like Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton, who can quickly adjust and gain a competitive edge.

However, Verstappen is skeptical about his ability to achieve something remarkable at the IFEMA complex in Madrid, even though the track is considered one where driver skill can play a more significant role than at a venue like Monza.

"You can embellish the narrative as much as you like, right? Driver’s track or not, at the end of the day, you still require a fast car in Formula 1."

This applies not only to the Madring but also to Verstappen’s overall season. The Dutch driver believes he is performing well, yet that hasn’t translated into results.

"As a driver, I feel good this year, but I'm not winning races. Does that imply I'm a poor driver or not fast enough? I don’t think so."

"It's not as if suddenly, because this is more of a driver-oriented track than Monza or whatever, you can perform significantly better."

Verstappen is now seriously contemplating the possibility that he may not secure a victory this year

Leading up to the inaugural grand prix at the Madring, much of the conversation has revolved around the circuit's dangers. The F3 testing yielded an astonishing 19 red flags, while Williams team principal James Vowles labeled the latest addition to the F1 calendar as ‘a car killer’.

When asked by Motorsport.com whether the Madring is genuinely that perilous, Verstappen responded:

"Well, it could be. In certain areas, a minor mistake can lead to a crash. But I mean, Jeddah is similar, and we've discussed that before.

"You just have to manage it and try to understand the limits to keep things under control. But naturally, when you're pushing the boundaries, it's easy to make a small error."

Verstappen references Jeddah for a reason. In his opinion, it offers the closest comparison to the Madring, being another street circuit where every mistake carries significant consequences.

"In terms of what I feel, yes. Of course, there are quite a few more low-speed corners here, but the sensation I get is somewhat akin to that, yeah."

Both Verstappen and Lawson draw parallels between the Madring and the street circuit in Jeddah

Red Bull stand-in and temporary teammate Liam Lawson shares that comparison, particularly due to the numerous blind corners that characterize both tracks.

"The way these street circuits are designed, the walls tend to follow the track's layout and are very blind in several areas," said the New Zealander on Thursday.

"There are many faster flowing corners where something is behind you and you can't see it. Jeddah obviously has more of that than this place, but it’s somewhat similar in that regard, I would say."

Several sections of the Madring can catch drivers off guard, but the chicane formed by Turns 5 and 6 certainly appears to be one of the trickiest.

"If you take too much of the first kerb, it'll bounce you across the second kerb, which will then bounce you into the wall. Trying to navigate accurately through a section like that is quite challenging," Lawson acknowledged.

"I've seen many videos of F3 cars just smashing both kerbs and either getting away with it or not, so it's definitely a tricky part of the track. The braking zone is also not straight, so trying to avoid locking up and managing that braking zone is going to be quite tough."

Finally, Lawson believes that drivers won't be able to push entirely to the limit in Madrid without feeling the constraints of the 2026 power units.

"Not like Monaco, no. I think Monaco is one where we can go flat out and actually have no limitations. I would say this isn’t going to be like that, but I do think it is a place where, more so than in Monza, you can probably make a bit of a difference."