Max Verstappen, the reigning star of Red Bull Racing and four-time Formula 1 World Champion, has openly admitted that the team is no longer strong enough to fight at the very top. The Dutch driver, known for his relentless competitiveness, revealed that no one can predict which team will emerge as the frontrunner when the new 2026 technical regulations arrive. However, when it comes to the present, Verstappen has a much clearer picture—and it is far from encouraging. He appears resigned, acknowledging that not even a miracle will allow him to defend the hard-fought championship title he captured last season. This reality only adds more confusion and frustration to an already challenging situation.
Red Bull dragging Verstappen down
Verstappen reflected on how McLaren has managed, in just a few months, to completely transform its performance level, underlining how Formula 1 demands patience, innovation, and the ability to capitalize on every tiny opportunity. The British team is set to debut a new floor at the Belgian Grand Prix, a component that was only tested during the previous round at Silverstone, further strengthening its competitive edge.
At the start of the current regulatory cycle, Red Bull Racing held a dominant position, quickly overcoming Ferrari’s challenge. But over the course of two seasons, culminating in 2023, the Milton Keynes-based team has entered a downward spiral. This decline has now led to a genuine crisis within the squad. The responsibility to guide the team out of this turbulent phase falls on Laurent Mekies, who recently took on a leadership role.
While it is unfair to judge Mekies’ work prematurely, it is difficult to imagine the former Ferrari sporting director coming close to replicating the extraordinary results achieved by Christian Horner over the past two decades. For now, Verstappen is observing and waiting. He would like to continue trusting the team that made him a four-time Formula 1 World Champion, but the future looks increasingly uncertain.
Verstappen’s reluctant surrender: McLaren is untouchable
Even though Red Bull appears to have partially solved the balance issues that plagued the car during the second half of the 2024 season, the current RB21 still suffers from notable weaknesses, especially in cornering. Max Verstappen has repeatedly pointed out that the car struggles most in slow corners, but even more so in medium-speed bends. These are precisely the sections of the track where McLaren’s MCL39 excels and gains a decisive advantage.
The Red Bull RB21 still offers solid downforce overall, but, much like Ferrari’s SF-25 for different reasons, it fails to deliver a consistent and effective vertical load throughout an entire lap. Although Sergio Perez—often criticized but now somewhat missed—had previously highlighted how increasingly tricky the car was to drive, Verstappen admits that things have improved only slightly.
Despite these updates, Max Verstappen acknowledges that a direct comparison with McLaren remains unfairly lopsided. According to him, there is a “grey area” in which Red Bull simply cannot match McLaren’s aerodynamic efficiency and traction. The team’s technical department, led by Pierre Waché, is working tirelessly to close the gap, but progress is slow.
Max Verstappen, visibly subdued, does not expect a real turnaround in 2025. His reasoning is simple: any gains Red Bull makes will likely be matched or surpassed by their rivals, leaving the current performance gap almost unchanged. Reaching McLaren’s level, in his view, is simply not a realistic goal right now.
Uncertainty in Verstappen’s mind
The Dutch champion openly admits that Red Bull’s performance this year is not aligned with its original ambitions. While he is still competing for podiums, the team can no longer impose its dominance as it once did. Formula 1’s technical complexity leaves no room for shortcuts—success requires a perfect balance of chassis design, aerodynamic innovation, engine performance, and optimal setup.
The RB21 is a product of ongoing development, but the team’s setbacks during the 2024 season forced a rethink of its design philosophy, slowing progress and affecting the current car. Verstappen is trying to stay optimistic, reminding himself that things could be worse—at least he is not fighting at the back of the grid like some of his competitors.
However, this approach of “accepting the glass half full” may not hold for long. The real test will come in 2026, when the new regulations will reset the competitive order. By then, Verstappen will have to make key decisions about his future. With a lucrative offer from Mercedes rumored to be on the table and ongoing instability within Red Bull, the Dutch driver is arguably facing the most complex and defining moment of his career.
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