Red Bull is losing patience with Verstappen

Back and forth Max Verstappen and his future within the Red Bull team continue to be the central pivot of discussions in the Formula 1 paddock. Half the grid could be influenced by the choices the four-time world champion makes, especially if in the end Verstappen’s decision is to leave Red Bull to join another team and not to take at least a sabbatical from F1, focusing his attention on other categories. However, for the first time since this endless push and pull was discussed, rumors are emerging regarding Red Bull’s annoyance with the attitude of its superstar. Until now, the crux of the matter had always been Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with the lack of competitiveness of the single-seater, with the flight of engineers and technicians from the team, with the lack of attention given to his suggestions regarding set-up and strategies. In short, the leitmotif was this: Verstappen is unhappy and Red Bull must try to convince him to stay. Now, however, something seems to have changed: according to what was reported by the Dutch newspaper De Limburger, in fact, even the top management of Red Bull are losing patience with their Dutch protégé. Let’s be clear, they’re not showing Max Verstappen the door; However, the team’s ownership is annoyed by this stalemate. Verstappen ungrateful Verstappen will be able to use the clause that allows him to free himself from the team by October, but it is clear that – despite being able to count on the Racing Bulls ‘reservoir’ – Red Bull would need to protect itself a little in advance if the #3’s decision really is to abandon Milton Keynes. After all these years, the Red Bull owners hoped for greater recognition and more gratitude from Verstappen towards the team that has accompanied him since he was a teenager and who helped him reach the highest peaks of motorsport. It must be said, however, that Verstappen is ‘simply’ exploiting the bargaining power given to him with the maxi-renewal signed in March 2022, when the management of the drivers was still entrusted to the duo Dietrich Mateschitz and Helmut Marko and Verstappen was fresh from the unforgettable World Championship triumph in Abu Dhabi 2021. Now all this flexibility granted to Max is becoming a problem for Red Bull, which not surprisingly has tried to buy back the exit clause granted to its driver. Verstappen and his entourage, however, do not want to give in, aware that the possibility of freeing themselves at the end of the championship guarantees them an important negotiating advantage. Meanwhile, the rest of the Circus remains on the sidelines and the options are all on the table: permanence (which is perhaps the least likely at the moment), farewell (perhaps even only temporary) to F1 and a change of jersey.

Automobile Magazine – Formula1 English, News

2026-07-07 09:28:00