From dream team to ticking time bomb: Red Bull now faces a real risk of implosion. And Verstappen seems ready to walk away…
After years of near-total dominance, the well-oiled machine known as Red Bull Racing appears to have broken down. The team that once ruled Formula 1 with flawless strategies, unmatched technical performance, and a seemingly untouchable Max Verstappen is now grappling with internal confusion, technical issues, and — perhaps most concerning — conflicting views at the top.
The crisis came to light after the Bahrain Grand Prix, where the RB21 showed clear limitations, ringing alarm bells across the paddock. And while results on track are faltering, within Milton Keynes, everyone seems to be telling a different version of the story.
Helmut Marko hits hard: “We don’t know what the problem is”
The first major signal came from Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, who didn’t mince words after a chaotic race weekend:
“Our car isn’t balanced and we don’t know what the problem is. We’ll have to wait and change many things to give Verstappen a car capable of fighting for the title.”
A blunt assessment that leaves little room for interpretation: Red Bull no longer has full control of the situation.
Horner tries to calm the waters: “We know the problems, we just need updates”
More measured was Christian Horner, who in the Sakhir media zone acknowledged the issues but insisted the team has already pinpointed the causes:
“We had two separate problems this weekend: one related to braking and the other to balance. Plus, we had a wall failure that caused an issue with the pit lane traffic light. These problems made the tire degradation more noticeable. We know what needs fixing — it’s just going to take a bit more time to implement the solutions.”
Horner’s take sharply contrasts with Marko’s, reinforcing the image of a team divided internally, struggling to speak with one clear voice.
Verstappen watches — and grows frustrated
In the middle of it all, Max Verstappen is watching, waiting… and growing increasingly frustrated. The Dutchman, long used to leading from the front in complete control, now finds himself in unfamiliar territory. And, according to today’s bombshell report, he may be ready to walk away.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport and covered in our article earlier today, Verstappen is said to have decided to leave Red Bull at the end of the season. If confirmed by additional sources, it would deal a massive blow to both Marko and Horner’s hopes of championship glory — and send shockwaves through the F1 world.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing
