Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Future in Doubt Amid Car Struggles, Says… Read more
Red Bull Racing is facing growing concerns about Max Verstappen’s future with the team as performance issues continue to plague their 2025 Formula 1 campaign. Team advisor Helmut Marko expressed his worry following a difficult Bahrain Grand Prix, where Verstappen only managed to finish sixth after encountering a range of problems, including poor pitstops and car handling issues.
Despite being just eight points behind championship leader Lando Norris and five behind Oscar Piastri, Red Bull’s RB21 has struggled to match McLaren’s pace, raising questions about its competitiveness going forward. Marko acknowledged the severity of the situation, telling Sky Germany that the team must quickly provide Verstappen with a car capable of winning again. He stressed the need to build a solid foundation for a championship-contending machine, warning that ongoing issues could jeopardize Verstappen’s long-term commitment to Red Bull.
Although Verstappen’s contract runs through the 2028 season, Marko recently revealed that most top drivers, including Verstappen, have performance-related clauses in their deals. This suggests Verstappen could potentially leave the team early if Red Bull fails to deliver a competitive car.
The team’s struggles were starkly contrasted by their strong performance in Suzuka just a week earlier, where Verstappen claimed pole and victory. However, Bahrain exposed ongoing weaknesses. Marko described their performance as “very alarming” and pointed to a range of technical issues, from poor grip and balance to braking problems. He also criticized the pitstop failures, including a faulty green light system that further hindered Verstappen’s race by placing him in traffic.
Internal tensions appear to be rising within Red Bull, as Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, was reportedly seen shouting at Marko in the garage post-race. Senior team figures, including Christian Horner, Pierre Wache, and Paul Monaghan, also held discussions in the paddock to address the growing concerns.
Team principal Christian Horner admitted it was a disappointing weekend for Red Bull, with nothing going according to plan. He highlighted poor starts, ineffective pitstops, and high tyre temperatures as contributing factors. Despite this, Horner emphasized the long season ahead and the importance of collecting every possible point in tough circumstances.
Verstappen himself acknowledged the team’s tyre management problems, which he believes could continue to be a disadvantage at other circuits, including the upcoming race in Saudi Arabia. While the Jeddah track may be less punishing on tyres, he cautioned that their underlying issues remain unresolved and could limit their competitiveness throughout the season.
