As Red Bull's performance plummets alongside Max Verstappen's morale, rumours are reigniting that the team could lose its star driver.
While McLaren celebrated Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's 1-2 in the drivers' standings after Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull held an urgent meeting. Reports indicate Christian Horner, Dr Helmut Marko, Pierre Wache, and Paul Monaghan scrambled to address a dismal evening, followed by a tense exchange between Marko and Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen.
Verstappen, however, brushed off post-race talks.
"Not at the moment," he told Viaplay when urged to discuss matters with his team. "You go. I don't feel like it."
He said his P6 finish on Bahrain's high-wear track was no shock. "I already warned about it during the winter test here," the 27-year-old Dutchman said. "I told my team 'Watch out, the gap is half a second' and that has now proven true."
Earlier, team boss Horner had skipped his usual media duties altogether after a tough Saturday. "Our car is simply not balanced," Marko said late Sunday. "And we don't know what the problem is. I suspect it's mainly an aerodynamic problem."
Post-race, Red Bull reportedly resolved to shake up their approach, including rethinking Friday practice strategies. "We need to question our approach," Marko conceded. "For example, we must have a better practice program, and that we use the engine more to understand where we stand. We have very good people, but they have to look within themselves, and everyone has to be open and honest. We know that the car isn't competitive. But why is that?"
For Verstappen, who dismissed his fifth-title chances in Bahrain, Marko offered little optimism. "In the short term, there's nothing we can do technically," he said. "At least when we're in Europe, there should hopefully be progress. But with a performance like this, we won't be able to defend our world championship title. And that's not good because we risk losing Max Verstappen."
An exit clause could reportedly activate if Verstappen falls outside the top three in points. "The concern is huge," Marko admitted. "There must be improvements that will allow him to win. We are very concerned and there are things going on at the moment."
Details of those "things" remain vague, but Sky Deutschland pressed Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on the prospect of signing Verstappen for 2026. "We're keeping both feet on the ground," Wolff replied. "We're happy with the way things are."
Wolff's challenge is George Russell's strong form, though his contract awaits renewal.
Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher was blunt: "I think the game is over. The only hope is that there's a Red Bull in Imola that suddenly competes for wins. But in Verstappen's position, it's logical that he wants to compete for wins. He has the opportunity to choose the best car in the paddock, and Red Bull is obviously not that."
As speculation mounts, Red Bull may face tough choices, like reshuffling key personnel. "That's not a question that arises right now," Marko insisted.
