Max Verstappen’s pursuit of a special fifth consecutive Formula 1 world championship is not going well and Red Bull need to find answers.
Otherwise, they risk heading into the 2026 F1 regulations feeling lost ahead of a major reset. They need to carry every bit of momentum that they can into the future.
There’s only so much that Verstappen can do without having the necessary tools at his disposal. He worked miracles to win the Japanese Grand Prix, but that was more of an exception.
The onus is on Red Bull to ensure that they remain competitive this year and in the future, otherwise they may be about to lose their star driver and front-running status.
Red Bull are desperate for a ‘new update’ on Verstappen’s car aimed at fixing some of the difficulties they have faced with tyre management this year. Reduced wear will help them push harder on a Sunday.
However, the team are wary of what the future holds, with Red Bull ready to ‘shift entirely’ to Verstappen’s 2026 car as soon as they realise that he has no chance of winning in 2025.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen told he’s developed a ‘strange’ habit that could now cost him the 2025 F1 title
Red Bull are discovering the ‘disadvantage’ of having Max Verstappen as their F1 driver
According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull are discovering the ‘disadvantage’ of having Verstappen as one of their drivers.
“The Dutchman’s exceptional talent can also be a disadvantage. The engineers only notice defects in the car after a delay.
“The pressure to change something is less as long as the lead driver just complains. If the lap time is still right, there’s no urgency. The second driver then has to take what’s available.”
In other words, the reigning champion’s talents sometimes hide the real issues that the car has. That’s just how fast he is behind the wheel, but it’s usually an issue for his teammates too.
Verstappen could ‘call it a day’ in 2025 according to one of his ex-Red Bull colleagues, especially if he somehow manages to win the title.
Red Bull ‘fear’ one Verstappen outcome after a messy Spanish Grand Prix has left him just one point from an automatic one race ban. It would be good for their Formula 1 image.
READ MORE: Guenther Steiner says the FIA have now set one ‘precedent’ with their Max Verstappen Spanish Grand Prix penalty
Why Max Verstappen is ‘too smart’ to copy his F1 idol amid Red Bull exit links
There have been rumours of interest from two teams regarding Verstappen, with the 27-year-old linked to both Mercedes and Aston Martin in the media.
Verstappen is ‘too smart’ to make Fernando Alonso’s mistakes, according to Guenther Steiner, who doesn’t believe that he will gamble on a move for 2026.
Red Bull will have their own power units for the first time ever next season, and their success will depend entirely on how well the factory performs.
With Verstappen under contract until 2028, it wouldn’t be easy for him to get up and leave anyway. For now, he will remain a part of the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
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