Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has claimed that Red Bull faces a rebuilding phase before it can return to its championship-winning form.
The Milton Keynes outfit enjoyed four dominant years in F1 in the current ground effect era, similar to 2010-2013 when Sebastian Vettel secured his four consecutive championships. But 2024 saw Red Bull lose out on the constructors’ championship to McLaren, finishing third overall behind Ferrari, and 2025 has continued in a similar fashion.
At the F1 summer break, Red Bull sits fourth in the constructors’ standings behind McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
In addition to the dip in performance on track, there have been significant off-track changes in the team. Red Bull announced on 9 July that Christian Horner had been replaced as Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal by Laurent Mekies. Although the specific reason for the 51-year-old’s exit was not revealed, it is thought that the departures of several key personnel, including Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, contributed to the decision.
“The team has gone from of course winning championships before I arrived, to when I arrived, a bit through a rebuilding phase, and then we really hit the peak again of winning championships,” Verstappen explained to F1.com.
“Now I feel like [it’s a] slight rebuilding. We’re still of course a very strong team, but I do think that to make again a step up, there’s slight rebuilding or restructuring maybe, and understanding a little bit more what’s going on, and that of course takes a little bit of time, but hopefully not too much time.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“I think that’s also a bit the mentality of the team [to fight back from a dip], it’s always been like that, so I’m not too worried about that.”
Verstappen has secured 187 of Red Bull’s 194 points so far this season. As a result, the Dutchman sits third in the drivers’ standings.
F1 is set to return from the summer break on 29-31 August for Verstappen’s home race, the Dutch Grand Prix, at Zandvoort.
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