Naomi Schiff Questions Red Bull’s Tight F1 Car Setup After US GP Challenges
Naomi Schiff has voiced concerns regarding Red Bull's limited setup margin, which might be affecting the performances of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
At the United States Grand Prix, both drivers faced setbacks early in the race. Hadjar experienced a launch issue that led him to request a clutch redesign, while Verstappen suffered from a lack of electrical deployment after Turn 1. This immediately pushed him into a prolonged battle with the Ferrari drivers.
Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, Schiff suggested these initial problems reveal deeper challenges within the Milton Keynes team.
"It was really unfortunate that neither of them had a good start because we were expecting a strong fight between Max and Kimi. Also, Isack being competitive could have shaken things up and maybe even secured his first F1 win," Schiff said.
"The Red Bull car this weekend seemed to have multiple issues beyond just the clutch. It feels like the car only works well within a very narrow operational window, teetering on a knife's edge, much like it has for several years now."
Schiff added that the race appeared to be more about managing damage right from the start. Verstappen himself admitted post-race that the initial strategy choice might have been flawed.
"We heard Max over the radio expressing frustration about being sent back into dirty air and how the strategy might not have been optimized. Currently, that car doesn’t seem easy to handle for either driver," she noted.
Race Issues Summary
- Isack Hadjar: Launch problem leading to clutch redesign request
- Max Verstappen: Electrical deployment failure out of Turn 1 causing race-long battles
- Strategy: Questioned for sending Verstappen back into turbulent air and possibly limiting race potential
