Verstappen masks a deeper issue: Red Bull’s car might be undrivable for anyone else, hinting at a fragile dominance in F1.
Red Bull Racing may have built the most dominant machine in recent Formula 1 history — but without Max Verstappen, is the team starting to crumble?
Former Aston Martin F1 strategist Bernie Collins didn’t mince her words in a recent breakdown of Red Bull’s current form. Her view? Red Bull has become so dependent on Verstappen that their true performance level is impossible to judge without him behind the wheel.
Take the RB21, for example — according to Collins, it’s arguably the worst car on the grid unless Max is driving it. That’s a big drop from the RB20, which was at least the fourth-best car last year, as shown by Sergio Perez’s results.
Her comments come as Liam Lawson’s recent struggles in the Red Bull seat raised eyebrows. While his performance in the Racing Bulls car was comparable to Yuki Tsunoda, Collins points out that in the RB21, Lawson looked lost — qualifying dead last. Max himself even said he could probably go faster in a Racing Bulls car. Ouch.
Red Bull’s RB21: Built for Max, Broken for Everyone Else
“Max is incredibly strong. He squeezes everything out of the car. He nails the lap when it matters,” Collins said. “He rarely makes mistakes. When others slip up in qualifying, he nails it. In the race, he finds a way. Always.”
But here’s the catch — Red Bull built the RB21 for Max. Literally.
In a recent interview, team boss Christian Horner admitted that the car’s development followed Max’s input. They leaned heavily into his preferences — especially a front-heavy aero balance — which makes the car incredibly sharp, but borderline undriveable for anyone else.
“With hindsight,” Collins noted, “maybe Liam could’ve adapted with more time, but this car is nothing like the Racing Bulls. Red Bull should have focused on finding young drivers who could thrive with this car’s unique traits — the aggressive front end.”
Red Bull Without Max? From First to Last in a Flash
She suggests something radical: put all the young talents in an old Red Bull, crank the front end to the max, and see who handles it best. That’s the type of profile they need in the second seat.
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: without Max, Red Bull isn’t just weaker — they’re potentially last.
“I said last year that without Max, they’d be the fourth-fastest team. People didn’t like that. But right now? They might actually be tenth,” Collins said bluntly. “We’ll see what Yuki Tsunoda can do in Japan — he might be able to turn that around.”
And it’s not just about pride. Constructors’ standings determine bonuses — and if Red Bull can’t get both cars scoring points, top talent inside the team might start looking elsewhere.
“If the team drops to fourth or fifth, and bonuses disappear, employees — especially the best ones — will leave,” she warned.
The bottom line? As long as Verstappen’s there, Red Bull remains a powerhouse. But if he walks away — or even misses a race — the cracks could turn into craters.
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Is Red Bull Racing Still a Top Team Without Verstappen? Is Red Bull Racing Still a Top Team Without Verstappen?
