To get straight to the point, there are currently no indications that Max Verstappen is contemplating leaving Red Bull for a rival team led by T. Wolff.
Following a lackluster performance at the Chinese GP, where he finished a distant fourth, the four-time F1 champion was questioned about his future but managed to skillfully deflect the inquiries, preventing tabloids from broadcasting headlines like ‘VERSTAPPEN ON BRINK OF RED BULL EXIT.’
Verstappen currently occupies second place in the drivers’ championship, trailing Lando Norris by just eight points. However, after dominating the 2023 season, Red Bull is currently facing difficulties.
The issues at Red Bull began in 2023 when an upgrade to the car’s underbody during the Spanish Grand Prix hindered Sergio Perez from driving the RB19 as effectively as Verstappen, who thrived in the same circumstances.
Despite Verstappen achieving numerous records during one of the most remarkable seasons in sports history, Red Bull did not take Perez’s concerns seriously. Although Perez initially found success at the start of 2024 with four podium finishes in the first five races, his performance later deteriorated, and the team’s technical mastermind Adrian Newey stepped down after 19 years, citing a lack of attention to Perez’s feedback.
In addition, long-term sporting director Jonathan Wheatley resigned to head up Stake/Audi, while strategy chief Will Courtenay announced his move to McLaren, although he remains under contract for now. Tensions also surfaced within the team at the beginning of 2024, stemming from allegations against team principal Christian Horner, which he denied. A verbal conflict arose between Horner and Red Bull executives Oliver Mintzlaff and Helmut Marko, though Horner retained crucial backing from Chalerm Yoovidhya, the Thai owner of Red Bull who holds a 51% stake.
Ultimately, a temporary agreement was reached, but the underlying tensions remain, with winning overshadowing the deeper issues. Verstappen initially thrived, securing seven wins in the first ten races; however, as the season progressed, performance began to decline. Red Bull, once the benchmark for pit stops and strategy, started to encounter errors that affected its operations. Amid these challenges, the upcoming 2026 technical regulations loom large, with Red Bull also preparing to develop its own power unit for the first time, but they appear to be lagging behind competitors like Mercedes.
The Dream Team Disintegrates
As of January 1st, 2024, Red Bull was in an exceptionally strong position, possessing the best driver, car, designer, sporting director, and one of the most accomplished team principals in Formula 1 history.
Fast forward just over 14 months, and while they still have the top driver, they have lost their competitive edge with the car and witnessed the departure of their best designer to a rival team. The sporting director has opted for a new challenge with Audi, and the team principal has faced criticism for poor decision-making.
Perez was awarded a new two-year contract despite evident decline, while Lawson was considered competent enough to compete against Verstappen after only 11 races, overshadowing Perez’s extensive experience of 281 races.
Now, with Lawson gone, the team is emphasizing Tsunoda’s 89 starts to aid the RB21’s development as Red Bull strives to regain its status as a race-winning contender. They must prove to Verstappen that they can still create a car that matches his exceptional skills.
Ultimately, Red Bull’s most pressing challenge is retaining Verstappen and preventing him from potentially moving to a rival team in 2026. If he’s unwilling to stick around for the remainder of his contract, it will be a straightforward choice for him. Red Bull must confront this unsettling reality and take action before it becomes a true nightmare.
