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?
A night of frustration in Bahrain
From the outset, Verstappen’s race seemed to be off the rails. After a poor start, he struggled to find pace in a car that seemed out of sync with the conditions, battling with tyre degradation and balance issues throughout. As McLaren surged forward – with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris making full use of their machinery to widen the gap at the front – Verstappen found himself fighting a battle of attrition, not for victory, but for respectability.
“Everything went wrong. The start, the pace, the pit stops – everything,” said Verstappen in his post-race interview with Sky.
“The car keeps overheating and the tyres don’t last. I have no idea what went wrong with the pit stops. It’s a disaster.”
The reigning champion looked and sounded exasperated – and it wasn’t just the result that bothered him. Red Bull’s inability to provide him with a competitive and consistent platform in Bahrain has caused internal alarm, particularly as tyre wear and overheating continue to plague their set-up. Verstappen has been vocal about the fact that even strategic decisions, such as switching to the harder compound, have proved ineffective. “The stint on the hards didn’t work at all,” he said. “The mediums were better, but sixth was the best we could do. Whether we had one or two sets of medium tyres, it wouldn’t have made any difference.
Cracks in the armour: Verstappen’s future in doubt?
Red Bull have been here before – dealing with internal tensions and driver discontent – but never with a driver of Verstappen’s stature at such a crossroads. As Red Bull stumbles under the weight of technical problems and team mistakes, a sense of vulnerability has crept in. Even Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s ever candid advisor, sounded uncharacteristically uncertain when asked about Verstappen’s long-term commitment to the team.
“There is a lot of concern,” Marko candidly admitted. “As I’ve said, we need to make improvements soon. Max needs a car that can fight for wins – we can’t rely on freak results like rain in Brazil or a one-off perfect lap in Japan. We need a solid base if he’s going to fight for the title.
Marko didn’t stop there. He stressed that any progress must be tangible and measurable. “We need progress that’s visible on the stopwatch, not just in points. If we continue to perform like this, there’s no chance of fighting for the World Championship.
It was an admission that startled many, especially coming from a senior figure known for his bullish confidence. Marko’s comments suggested not only an acknowledgement of Red Bull’s current decline, but also a realisation that Verstappen’s patience may be wearing thin.
All eyes on Imola: A crucial juncture
If there is one moment that could shape the trajectory of both Red Bull and Verstappen’s 2025 season, it could come at Imola. The team is pinning its hopes on a major update package due for the next race, a technical overhaul that could determine whether Red Bull regains its footing or spirals deeper into its slump.
“Imola is absolutely crucial,” said Sky Sports F1 pundit Ralf Schumacher.
“Max grew up at Red Bull and it won’t be an easy decision to leave. But if the update doesn’t work and if the new power unit – and I’m only talking about rumours here – doesn’t deliver the performance they expected, then yes, I think Verstappen will seriously consider leaving.”
The gravity of Schumacher’s prediction adds another layer to the tension surrounding Red Bull. While Verstappen’s contract runs until 2028, performance clauses or mutual exit options are believed to be in place, making the unthinkable a very real possibility.
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The car conundrum: where did it all go wrong?
At the heart of Red Bull’s woes is a question that no one seems to be able to answer with any confidence: what exactly is wrong with the car?
Marko suggests that a lack of aerodynamic balance could be at the root of the team’s difficulties. “Technically, our car just isn’t balanced,” he explained. “We don’t even know what the problem is yet, but my guess is that it’s aerodynamic. If the car isn’t right and then you have two bad pit stops, Max’s mood can change quickly. And he’s not wrong to be frustrated.
The Bahrain data supports Marko’s concerns. Red Bull’s RB20 struggled in both high-speed corners and on the long straights, where overheating issues were compounded by unusually high tyre degradation. This was particularly glaring in comparison to the McLarens, which managed tyre wear with impressive efficiency and kept their drivers competitive throughout the race.
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Shifting power dynamics on the grid
The growing threat of McLaren posed yet another challenge to Red Bull’s dominance. Once well ahead of the chasing pack, Red Bull now find themselves being hunted. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are looking like genuine title contenders – and if Verstappen continues to struggle while they thrive, the mental blow could be as damaging as the points deficit.
Mercedes and Ferrari, though inconsistent, are also in the mix. And with the grid tightening, Verstappen’s margin for error has vanished. The days of coasting to victories and sealing championships with races to spare are in the rear-view mirror, at least for now.
A critical season ahead
Formula One is no stranger to drama, but the possibility of Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull would be seismic. His relationship with the team has defined the current era, and his departure would likely trigger a reshuffle not just within Red Bull, but across the grid.
For now, Red Bull still has time to correct its course. The Imola update looms as a make-or-break moment, and all eyes will be on whether the team can deliver a car capable of supporting a championship campaign – not just in theory, but in practice.
As for Verstappen, the frustration in Bahrain made it clear that he’s no longer willing to settle for mediocrity. The world champion has higher standards – and if Red Bull can’t live up to them soon, the F1 world could be in for one of the most dramatic driver-team splits in recent history.
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Ferrari’s set-up gamble begins to pay off as Charles Leclerc secures front row spot in Bahrain – Ferrari’s quest for performance has rarely lacked effort, but in Bahrain the reward has finally matched the effort. Charles Leclerc will start Sunday’s Grand Prix on the front row, alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, following a grid penalty for Mercedes’ George Russell.
While the result may appear to be luck in the Monegasque’s favour, Leclerc insists it’s the culmination of relentless experimentation and hard work behind the scenes. After weeks of intense setup testing and iterative development, both car and driver are beginning to find a rhythm – just in time for what could be a pivotal stretch of the 2025 Formula 1 season… READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
