Max Verstappen’s Frustrations with Red Bull and Racing Bulls: A Closer Look at the Current F1 Drama

Max Verstappen, the current Formula 1 world champion, has not been happy with Red Bull’s performance this season. Despite winning races earlier in the year and securing podium finishes, the team’s performance has been disappointing in the second half of the season. Verstappen’s frustration stems from a number of factors, particularly how Red Bull’s performance has stagnated while their sister team, the Racing Bulls, have shown significant improvement. In this article, we will dive into Verstappen’s comments, the evolving dynamics between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, and the future of drivers like Isaac Hajar, who could potentially shake things up.

Verstappen’s Discontent with Red Bull’s Performance

Max Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with Red Bull is not something new. After a series of dominant seasons, where Red Bull left other teams in the dust, the 2023 season has seen a noticeable decline in performance. Verstappen’s early wins in the season were impressive, but recent races have seen a decline. With only two podium finishes in the last eight races, the team’s performance no longer matches the high standards that have been set over the past few years.

However, what seems to bother Verstappen the most is the performance gap between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, a team that is meant to be their “B-team.” Verstappen openly expressed his discontent, especially after the race in Zandvoort, calling the team’s performance “unacceptable.”

In an interview with Dutch F1 broadcaster Viaplay, Verstappen highlighted that despite securing third place in the race, the car’s pace was nowhere near what it should have been. He admitted that his position was more a result of a good qualifying session than actual race pace. Verstappen, known for his brutally honest analysis, stated, “In terms of speed, it really wasn’t there,” which was a sharp critique of Red Bull’s recent performance.

One of the most eye-opening moments came when Verstappen compared his situation to the Racing Bulls team, led by rookie driver Isaac Hajar. Despite Racing Bulls being the supposed “junior” team, Verstappen noted that the Racing Bulls’ performance was significantly closer to his own than it should have been. “The whole race, we were basically fighting with our sister team based on pure pace,” he said, emphasizing that such a situation shouldn’t be happening.

Racing Bulls: Red Bull’s Unintended Competitor

Racing Bulls, often regarded as the B-team, have shown surprising growth this season. Isaac Hajar, in particular, has impressed many by clinching his first-ever Formula 1 podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix. His performance was nothing short of impressive, as he finished ahead of several notable drivers, including Verstappen, for a significant portion of the race.

While Racing Bulls started the season with modest expectations, they have quickly become a formidable force on the grid. The team’s steady improvement has caught many by surprise, especially given the disparity in funding and resources compared to Red Bull. In 2023, Racing Bulls finished a distant eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, with only 25 points. This season, however, they have already scored 60 points in 15 races, which is a massive improvement, especially considering that Red Bull itself has struggled with car performance.

The stark contrast between Red Bull’s stagnation and Racing Bulls’ progress has left many questioning what is going wrong at the parent team. Verstappen himself pointed out that Racing Bulls shouldn’t be performing as well as they are, given the supposed difference in resources. With both teams having access to the same engine and budget cap, the question arises: how is Racing Bulls outperforming Red Bull?

A Potential Change: Would Verstappen Be Better Off at Racing Bulls?

The increasingly visible performance gap between Red Bull and Racing Bulls has led to an interesting question: would Max Verstappen perform better if he drove for Racing Bulls instead? Several pundits have speculated that Verstappen could be performing even better if he were behind the wheel of the Racing Bulls car.

Fernando Alonso, for instance, has gone on record saying that Verstappen would likely be winning more races in the Racing Bulls car, given his talent and ability to extract the most from any machine. This assertion comes from the fact that Verstappen’s driving style has often been the only thing keeping Red Bull competitive, especially given the car’s struggles with pace.

At the start of the season, Verstappen himself predicted that his Racing Bulls teammate, Liam Lawson, would be faster in the Racing Bulls car. This only solidified the notion that Verstappen’s ability to perform at the highest level is often tied to his skill rather than the inherent performance of his car. The idea is that Verstappen’s driving talent is so high that he can make a struggling car look competitive, which has been evident in some of his performances this season.

However, when asked whether he would be interested in driving for Racing Bulls, Verstappen dismissed the idea. In an interview before the Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen stated that he wasn’t interested in switching teams because he didn’t believe it would help him win races. “I wouldn’t be able to win races with that car,” he said. “It wouldn’t be enough to beat McLaren, so it’s not something I’m thinking about.”

The Politics of the Red Bull Teams: Why Verstappen Won’t Drive for Racing Bulls

Despite the possibility of Verstappen performing better with Racing Bulls, Red Bull has no intention of putting their star driver into their junior team. Sources within Red Bull have revealed that they are deliberately trying to keep the two teams separate, citing the potential for controversy if Verstappen were to switch to Racing Bulls. The team has invested heavily in maintaining the image of two distinct teams, and such a move could blur the lines between the two.

This situation is complicated by the fact that Red Bull has already swapped drivers between the two teams this season, with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson both filling in for Racing Bulls. Despite these swaps, it appears that Verstappen remains firmly in Red Bull’s grip, and any attempt to switch teams would likely lead to unnecessary complications.

The Future of Isaac Hajar: Red Bull’s Rising Star

One driver whose future at Red Bull is starting to look more promising is Isaac Hajar. The 20-year-old has been making waves, particularly after his podium finish in Zandvoort. Despite initially being unsure of his readiness to join Red Bull, Hajar has become the favorite to take a seat alongside Verstappen in 2026.

Hajar has shown a mature attitude when discussing his future. In an interview, he stated that while he wasn’t ready to jump into a Red Bull seat immediately, the 2026 season could be a different story. “It’s a brand new start for the team, and there won’t be this talk of the second car thing,” Hajar said, acknowledging the difficulties of driving for a team where the focus is often on the dominant driver. With the new regulations and car designs expected for 2026, Hajar believes the environment could be more conducive to him stepping up.

Despite being the favorite for the promotion, Hajar has yet to have any direct conversations with Red Bull management. He is not in a rush, understanding the significance of the decision and the potential pressures of racing for a team as high-profile as Red Bull.

Conclusion

Max Verstappen’s frustrations with Red Bull this season are a clear indication of the struggles the team is facing. While Racing Bulls has surged ahead in terms of performance, Red Bull has faltered, leaving Verstappen to question the team’s future. As rumors swirl about the possibility of Verstappen switching teams or Racing Bulls becoming a more viable option for him, one thing is clear: the future of Formula 1’s most successful team is uncertain. Drivers like Isaac Hajar are emerging as the next big stars, but whether Red Bull can reclaim its former glory or be overshadowed by its junior team remains to be seen.