Tensions mount at Red Bull as crisis deepens and Verstappen’s future remains uncertain – Red Bull Racing is no stranger to adversity in Formula One, but the storm clouds currently hanging over the Milton Keynes-based outfit appear darker than usual. In the wake of a dramatically poor performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, senior figures within the team have been called into yet another emergency meeting, with alarm bells ringing not only over the car’s underperformance, but also the potential departure of Max Verstappen.

While a recent win in Japan offered a glimmer of hope, Bahrain brought back the grim reality of the team’s struggle to compete. From slow pit stops to a lack of pace and a deeply frustrated Verstappen, the weekend only exacerbated existing tensions. The gathering of the team’s top technical minds in Bahrain in the aftermath of the event reveals the severity of the internal crisis – one that could ultimately have repercussions far beyond this season.

 

Bahrain unravels the facade: A performance to forget

Red Bull went into the weekend of the Bahrain Grand Prix bracing for challenges. But few within the team expected Max Verstappen to find himself locked in a mid-field battle with the likes of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. And while Verstappen eventually prevailed to finish sixth, the result was a far cry from the dominance fans had come to expect.

The Dutchman made no attempt to hide his frustration. In a post-race interview with Viaplay, Verstappen bluntly stated that he had “zero pace” and refused to take part in the team’s routine debrief.

“I had no pace at all, really zero,” he vented.

A change of brake supplier before the weekend had not helped. Poor strategy decisions and disastrous pit stops only added to the misery. The team botched not one, but two of Verstappen’s stops and Yuki Tsunoda also suffered a delay in the pits – pointing to deeper systemic issues beyond the RB20’s lack of speed.

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Verstappen on the edge: cracks in the relationship

At the heart of Red Bull’s growing concern is the future of their star driver. Verstappen, whose tireless performances have often covered up the team’s operational shortcomings, could be approaching a tipping point. Rumours continue to swirl that his contract contains a championship exit clause. With George Russell just four points behind him and Red Bull slipping from the top of the grid, that clause is increasingly under threat.

As German motorsport journalist Michael Schmidt bluntly put it, “Without Verstappen, Red Bull is not worth half as much”. Indeed, Verstappen’s brilliance has masked some of the team’s shortcomings in recent years, from strategic inconsistencies to operational sloppiness. Now, with Red Bull’s performance nosediving and the car’s flaws exposed, Verstappen’s loyalty is being put to the test.

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Crisis meeting behind closed doors: No clear solution in sight

In the wake of the Bahrain debacle, Red Bull’s technical brain trust gathered for a high-level meeting. In attendance were senior figures including Helmut Marko, team principal Christian Horner, technical director Pierre Waché and chief engineer Paul Monaghan.

Notably absent was Verstappen himself, who had already signalled he had no interest in reviewing a race he found deeply disappointing.

Marko, known for his blunt assessments, spoke to the press after the meeting and did little to gloss over the team’s predicament.

“It’s very worrying,” he said. “We know we’re not competitive. We need to introduce new parts in the next few races and hopefully that will solve it.” But when pressed for specifics, Marko admitted that no significant upgrades are expected before the European leg of the season – meaning Red Bull will have to get through Saudi Arabia and Miami, including a sprint weekend, with their current underperforming package.

It was a stunning admission from a team long accustomed to setting the pace. It was also a worrying sign that Red Bull is currently operating without a clear diagnosis, let alone a cure.

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Fundamental failures exacerbate a technical crisis

As well as the fundamental problems with the car – poor balance, lack of grip and now braking problems – Red Bull have also been undone by failures in the basics. Pit stops, once a hallmark of Red Bull’s operational excellence, have been riddled with errors of late. Verstappen’s race in Bahrain was severely hampered by two slow stops. The time lost put him in heavy traffic, further diminishing any hopes of a recovery.

“Those pit stops may have cost us two positions,” admitted Marko, “but we were just too slow…”

The 81-year-old consultant was also critical of the team’s weekend preparations.

“Normal procedures like pit stops didn’t work either, so one thing led to another. In any case, we need to start with a better programme on Friday, one that is not so chaotic.”

Even in Japan, where Verstappen was able to salvage a victory, the warning signs were there. Poor execution in the pits and feedback disconnects from the simulator suggested a team slowly losing its grip on operational sharpness. The problems now appear to be endemic – and they’ve come at the worst possible time.

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Slipping down the grid: A new reality for Red Bull

Despite sitting third in the Constructors’ Championship – boosted by Verstappen’s heroics and Ferrari’s disqualification in China – Marko is under no illusions.

“We are the fourth team at the moment,” he admitted. This sobering reality reflects not just one bad weekend, but a trend that has now stretched over several races.

The RB20, which was expected to be a step forward, seems to be going backwards. Grip is minimal, balance is elusive and nothing seems to work consistently. Even the team’s once-vaunted simulator is reportedly failing to provide any useful insights. For a team that prides itself on rapid development and cutting-edge performance, these failures are deeply unsettling.

Adding to the instability is Red Bull’s wider driver situation. With Sergio Pérez struggling, Liam Lawson unproven at this level and Yuki Tsunoda still finding his feet, Verstappen represents not only the team’s best hope – but increasingly its only hope. Without him, Red Bull’s results would paint a very different picture.

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Ominous silence and a lingering question: Will Verstappen stay?

Perhaps the most disturbing takeaway from Bahrain wasn’t the pace or the pit stops, but Marko’s cryptic warning after the crisis meeting.

“We are very concerned and there are things going on at the moment,” he said, without offering any clarification.

What exactly is ‘going on’ remains a mystery. But it doesn’t take much imagination to link this comment to the growing speculation about Verstappen’s future. With performance lagging and internal tensions rising, Verstappen may already be considering his options. Whether that includes rumoured interest from Mercedes or an unexpected move elsewhere, the reality is that the Dutchman no longer seems emotionally attached to the Red Bull project.

For a team that has built its modern identity around Verstappen’s dominance, this possibility is as serious as any technical failure. Verstappen is not just a driver, he is the cornerstone of Red Bull’s F1 era. If the foundation shakes, the whole house is at risk.

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Looking ahead: Survival mode ahead of Europe

The next few weeks will be crucial. Red Bull heads to Saudi Arabia and Miami with a car that is underperforming, drivers that are under pressure and a team spirit that appears fractured. Verstappen, who is still very much in the title hunt, now faces the daunting task of extracting performance from a car that refuses to cooperate. His frustration is growing and his confidence in the team is clearly eroding.

With no major upgrades planned before Europe, Red Bull must now operate in survival mode. They must cling on to every point and hope that a combination of better set-ups, cleaner Fridays and fewer pit-stop mistakes can stem the bleeding. But unless the technical issues are resolved quickly and the team can regain the trust of their star driver, the risk of this crisis deepening – and Verstappen leaving – remains alarmingly real.

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MORE F1 NEWS – Verstappen blasts his own team “Catastrophe”

Verstappen reeling after Bahrain setback as Red Bull faces questions over future stability – The Formula One paddock was left stunned after reigning world champion Max Verstappen endured a frustrating and chaotic Bahrain Grand Prix that ended with the Dutchman finishing a disappointing sixth. Once a symbol of untouchable dominance, Verstappen’s race under the lights at Sakhir highlighted a number of issues plaguing Red Bull Racing – issues that could have far-reaching consequences for the team, including speculation that Verstappen could be weighing up his options for life beyond Milton Keynes.

Verstappen didn’t mince his words in the aftermath of a race that went wrong from start to finish, lambasting his team’s performance and describing the entire event as a “disaster”. His raw and scathing remarks have raised fresh concerns within Red Bull management and sparked debate in the paddock: could F1’s dominant figure actually walk away from the team that made him a three-time world champion? READ MORE ON THIS STORY