Red Bull's been hit with a reality check at Zandvoort, and team principal Laurent Mekies isn't sugar-coating it. The team showed real promise before the summer break with Max Verstappen grabbing three podiums in five races, but the Dutch Grand Prix showed just how much ground they've lost. Verstappen crashed out on lap one in wet conditions while teammate Liam Lawson limped home nearly 50 seconds adrift of the McLaren of Oscar Piastri in what was a genuinely rough weekend for the Milton Keynes outfit.

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Mekies has been blunt about what needs addressing. He reckons the RB22 felt noticeably more difficult to drive at Zandvoort compared to races like Hungary, Spain, and Austria before the break. The team's now launching an investigation to figure out exactly what went wrong and whether it's simply a case of other teams bringing better upgrades or if there's something specific limiting their performance. With a double-header at Monza and Madrid coming up, there's no time for excuses either.

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Verstappen himself echoed the sentiment, telling media that the lack of outright pace was the real disappointment rather than his crash. He admitted Red Bull's currently the fourth-fastest team on the grid and that rivals have brought upgrades while they haven't. Fair assessment, and he knows they can't expect miracles. The Dutchman's realistic about where they stand this season, but there's clearly determination to turn things around before Italy.

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So Red Bull's got work to do and nowhere to hide about it. Mekies said it plainly, the performance numbers don't lie, and they need answers fast. Whether it's setup issues, car limitations, or just getting outgunned by the competition, the next fortnight will be crucial. Monza's coming, and the team needs to show they can bounce back properly.

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