Red Bull endured one of their worst races of the 2025 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, after Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda failed to finish in the top five.
It is a track that Red Bull has historically been good at in the last two seasons, having won with Verstappen in 2023 and 2024. The odds slightly favoured Red Bull in 2025 off the back of their triumph in Japan, but things got off to a bad start.
Verstappen encountered brake issues in qualifying which put him seventh on the grid, then the race was marred by overheating tyres, balance issues, and poor pit stops.
Red Bull has now fallen behind McLaren in the pit stop battle, which some attribute to the departure of Jonathan Wheatley at the end of the 2024 season.
Senior management in Red Bull held an ‘intensive meeting’ in the F1 paddock after the race, suggesting that they are unhappy with their current performance output. If things persist, it could lead to an early exit from Max Verstappen according to former Dutch racing driver Jeroen Bleekemolen writing in his Formule1.nl column.
Max Verstappen could look elsewhere on the grid if Red Bull balance issues persist
One of the main things that impacted Red Bull in Bahrain was the rough asphalt surface, which has not been renewed since it joined the calendar in 2004.
Bleekemolen believes Red Bull’s problems with the RB21 could improve at the next races where there is slightly newer asphalt, but warns Verstappen could leave if their problems persist.
“Whether there is panic, I don’t know, because you already saw this coming. In Bahrain it’s hot, there’s a lot of tyre wear, little grip. So that will be very difficult for Red Bull and you saw it right away: it is ‘just’ the fourth team on these types of circuits,” said Bleekemolen.
“If there is some newer asphalt somewhere, Red Bull will do better. You’ll see that in Jeddah. But the problems with the car are there. Max also sees and discusses that. He really doesn’t give up now, he’s going to help solve those problems. But yes, if this goes on like this in three, four races, then you’re going to look around as Verstappen. Because in the end he wants a car with which he can win.”
Max Verstappen could leave Red Bull if he drops out of top three
The Red Bull driver is currently third in the Drivers’ Championship, but Verstappen has a performance clause in his contract that enables him to leave if he drops out of the top three.
The Dutchman’s current contract runs until the 2028 season, but there are several performance clauses tied into that which could shorten that tenure.
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Lando Norris |
77 |
| 2 |
Oscar Piastri |
74 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
69 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
63 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
32 |
If he does decide to trigger the get-out clause, he would have numerous options up and down the grid available to him.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has openly wanted Verstappen to join them amid interest at the start of last season, while Aston Martin is also an avenue with Adrian Newey’s involvement.
