Verstappen Faces Uphill Battle as Red Bull Struggles to Keep Pace with McLaren

Max Verstappen endured his worst race result since 2022 at the Spanish Grand Prix, raising fresh concerns about Red Bull's development of the RB21. The Dutchman now trails behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with Red Bull acknowledging their winter upgrades have fallen short. Verstappen’s camp was left puzzled by Red Bull technical chief Pierre Wache’s comment suggesting Racing Bulls had a more innovative car design.

Insiders believe Verstappen may retire after the 2026 regulations kick in, especially if Red Bull fails to provide a consistently competitive car. The team has realized that Verstappen’s brilliance often masks the RB21’s flaws, particularly with tyre wear. With the fifth title slipping out of reach, Red Bull is urgently planning updates. Though they’ve identified a strategy that usually beats McLaren, its reliability remains in question.