Max Verstappen experienced a deeply disappointing outcome at Red Bull’s home event, the Austrian Grand Prix, when an early collision on the first lap forced him to retire. This setback, combined with ongoing performance struggles, has intensified concerns about the team‘s competitiveness, prompting Jos Verstappen to disclose his son’s dissatisfaction with Red Bull’s pace during the weekend at Spielberg.
The difficulties for Max Verstappen started well before the race day, with unresolved issues throughout the practice sessions. Verstappen, already disadvantaged by the absence of his trusted race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who was away on family leave, struggled to find speed. Despite being the reigning world champion, Verstappen qualified only seventh after a session marred by double yellow flags and underwhelming team performance, leaving him poorly positioned for the race.
Though Max Verstappen remained publicly reserved regarding the team’s struggles, Jos Verstappen revealed that his son expressed significant frustration behind closed doors. The Dutch driver reportedly reached out to his father after qualifying, criticizing the current quality of Red Bull’s race pace. This expression of discontent raises questions about Verstappen’s future should the team’s results not improve, especially as rivals like George Russell continue to close the gap in the championship standings due to Verstappen’s costly DNF.
“I already heard it on the phone, he said: ‘Yeah, it’s just not good enough.’”
—Jos Verstappen, told Race Express
Max Verstappen’s Struggles Amid Red Bull’s Persistent Issues in Austria
Max Verstappen’s Austrian Grand Prix weekend reflected a rare display of vulnerability for the Red Bull team. The temporary loss of Gianpiero Lambiase appeared to unsettle Verstappen’s rhythm and communication, likely contributing to the car’s underperformance. Qualifying seventh was underwhelming for someone of Verstappen’s calibre and expectations, illustrating the team’s challenges.
The race itself was abruptly ended for Verstappen when Kimi Antonelli collided into the back of his RB21 on the opening lap, forcing a withdrawal from the event. This unfortunate incident compounded the difficulties caused by the team’s lack of competitiveness and the upgrades that fell short of expectations.
Red Bull’s Upgrade Struggles and Jos Verstappen’s Sharp Criticism
Despite introducing an upgrade package during the Austrian GP weekend intended to boost performance, Red Bull could not improve its form substantially. Jos Verstappen voiced strong criticism towards the team’s latest modifications, asserting that they failed to make a significant impact on the speed or competitiveness of the car.
“And I think the update that Red Bull brought doesn’t make that much of a difference.”
—Jos Verstappen
According to Jos Verstappen, the Austrian improvements did not elevate Red Bull to a race-winning level, as the team remained behind dominant competitors like McLaren and surprisingly lagged behind even Ferrari and Mercedes at Spielberg. This struggling performance has frustrated both Verstappen and the broader Red Bull camp, reflecting a deeper issue beyond a single race weekend.
The Rising Tensions and Future Uncertainty at Red Bull
Jos Verstappen’s remarks hint at growing concerns within the team and among its key figures, possibly threatening Max Verstappen’s long-term commitment to Red Bull. The Dutch driver’s alleged exit clause could become relevant if the team’s downward trajectory remains unchanged, especially as rival George Russell narrows the points gap.
Adding to the uncertainty, Red Bull has endured a wave of key personnel departures in recent times, raising questions about internal stability. Rumors have surfaced about former champion Sebastian Vettel potentially returning to the team to provide leadership following Helmut Marko’s departure, which could signal a strategic shift aimed at reversing Red Bull’s recent fortunes.
For now, Red Bull must tackle its evident struggles to restore confidence both within the team and among fans, as Verstappen’s frustrations make clear that the status quo is untenable. How the team responds in upcoming races will be critical in determining whether Verstappen remains committed or looks elsewhere to continue his championship pursuits.