Max Verstappen met Red Bull on alert in emergency talks, demanding serious upgrades to rescue the struggling RB21 before it’s too late.
Max Verstappen attended a high-stakes emergency meeting at Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keynes headquarters yesterday, as the team looks to address growing concerns around the RB21’s performance.
Sources close to the team say the meeting was constructive. Verstappen, along with Yuki Tsunoda and key engineers, reviewed Red Bull’s development roadmap aimed at fixing the current weaknesses of the car. Max reportedly left the meeting “satisfied” but is waiting to see real progress on the track.
“This was about aligning with Max, hearing his concerns, and making sure we’re moving forward together,” explained Dr. Helmut Marko. “We have upgrades in the pipeline, but they won’t be instant fixes.”
Adrian Newey’s Absence Felt At Red Bull
Marko also acknowledged the absence of legendary designer Adrian Newey has left a gap—but insisted Red Bull remains strong.
“We’re nearly a 1,000-person team. Adrian built a solid structure around him. He didn’t do it all alone.”
When asked if Verstappen is still on track for a fifth consecutive world title, Marko didn’t sugarcoat it: “Only if the car improves. Everyone knows we can’t win standing still.”
Many in the paddock see Red Bull’s current struggles as a ripple effect from the passing of company founder Dietrich Mateschitz in late 2022.
Schumacher Blasts Red Bull’s Technical Decisions
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher didn’t hold back in his criticism of Red Bull’s recent decisions—especially combining the emergency meeting with news that Yuki Tsunoda will replace Liam Lawson.
“With all due respect to Helmut, what we’ve seen from Max and this car—this ‘bucket,’ as I call it—is just not enough,” Ralf said. “Marko’s under pressure again. Horner’s walking a tightrope. It’s firefighting, not strategy. Red Bull used to be untouchable. Now? I doubt Mateschitz would be proud.”
He continued, “I think the team’s lost its way. Horner bet on the wrong people, let key talent go, and now they’re paying the price.”
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Inside Red Bull’s Emergency Talks with Verstappen
Inside Red Bull’s Emergency Talks with Verstappen
