Despite Red Bull’s disappointing start to the season, Max Verstappen is now just eight points shy of Lando Norris, the current leader. This shortfall is largely due to Norris’s teammate taking points from him, while Verstappen’s sixth-place finish in Bahrain sparked tension within the Red Bull team.
Following the race last weekend, Raymond Vermeulen was seen confronting Red Bull’s chief advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko, in a heated exchange before leaving the garage in a huff. Many in the paddock speculated that the frustration stemmed from another underwhelming performance by the RB21, which only managed a P7 qualifying time in Verstappen’s hands, a considerable 0.6 seconds slower than Oscar Piastri, who secured pole position.
Pit Stop Troubles
Race day brought further challenges. Verstappen swiftly climbed to sixth by the fourth lap, but a disastrous pit stop on lap ten, amidst deteriorating soft tires, set the tone for a rough Bahrain Grand Prix. Red Bull’s pit stop light system failed to activate correctly during his initial tire change, forcing him to leave prematurely, now sitting 40 seconds behind the leader.
As the race progressed, Verstappen’s second tire change encountered similar issues, quashing any hopes of a podium finish. Observations from veteran pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz described Vermeulen’s upset as tensions heated in the Red Bull garage during post-race interviews.
Concerns Multiply
Dr. Marko’s comments to Sky Germany indicated his concern for the team’s performance, stating that without improvements in the coming races, Verstappen’s chances for a fifth championship title would dwindle. He stressed the necessity for improvements to ensure Verstappen has a winning car in the future.
The Future of Verstappen
Marko emphasized that maximizing Verstappen’s chances in 2025 is the team’s primary objective, even if it means conceding the constructors’ title. He hinted at the potential for Verstappen to explore other team options unless Red Bull can provide a competitive car. Discussions are reportedly set to take place during the F1 summer break regarding Verstappen’s contract.
Clarifying the Situation
Verstappen addressed the incident involving Dr. Marko and his manager, downplaying the significance of the altercation and asserting it was merely a discussion about team matters. Meanwhile, team principal Christian Horner criticized the notion of a “crisis summit,” clarifying that regular meetings to address performance issues are a standard practice in any racing team.
Future Races and Expectations
Looking ahead, Red Bull is poised to introduce a series of upgrades to tackle the current shortcomings of the RB21. With expectations for improved performance by the ninth round in Barcelona, Dr. Marko acknowledged that the upcoming races in Jeddah and Miami would prove challenging. If current trends continue, Verstappen could find himself significantly behind the leading contenders by the time the Spanish Grand Prix arrives.
