Formula 1 never ceases to surprise, and in the heart of Red Bull Ring, the Austrian Grand Prix left more than a bad taste for Red Bull Racing. Christian Horner, the head of the team, faces a critical moment: the possibility of losing his star, Max Verstappen, and the need to reinforce a team that fails to find the balance. With the uncertainty surrounding the world’s tetracampeon, Horner seems to be moving chips to attract a pilot with 20 podiums to his credit: George Russell, by Mercedes. But what is really happening in the bowels of the Austrian team?
The weekend in Austria was a disaster for Red Bull. Verstappen, who left from the seventh position after a qualifying frustrated by a yellow flag, saw his career ended before completing a complete turn due to a clash with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. For his part, Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s teammate, had even more discouraging performance, ending in the last position, two laps behind the leader. Horner did not hide his frustration by pointing out a “Great Delta” between the performance of his two pilots, a gap that highlights the structural problems of the team. Tsunoda, visibly lacking trust, has not managed to adapt to RB21, a car largely designed to maximize Verstappen’s talent, but which seems to be a challenge for any other pilot.
While Red Bull struggles to recover his domain, the possibility that Verstappen leaves the team has lit the alarms. With a contract that links it until 2028, the Dutchman is not exempt from clauses that could allow him to leave before if the performance of the equipment does not improve. The advantage of McLaren in the championship, led by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, has left Verstappen to 61 points of the leader, a difference that seems insurmountable in the current season. Mercedes, meanwhile, has not hidden interest in the four times world champion. Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes, has confirmed conversations with the Verstappen environment, although he insists that the chances of seeing him on his team in 2026 are low. However, George Russell’s words, who revealed that his contract renewal with Mercedes is in Pause while the team evaluates the possibility of signing Verstappen, they have added firewood to the fire.
Given this panorama, Horner seems to be playing a bold letter: try to attract George Russell to Red Bull. According to journalist Felix Gorner, the Austrian team is in conversations with the British pilot, who accumulates 20 podiums and four victories in his career. The idea of an exchange of pilots between Red Bull and Mercedes, with Verstappen potentially going in the opposite direction, has generated a whirlwind of speculation. Russell, a proven talent, could be the key to stabilizing the second Red Bull seat, which has been a weak point for years. Pilots like Sergio Pérez, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and now Tsunoda have fought to match the rhythm of Verstappen, and the lack of competitiveness of the second car has left the team in a vulnerable position in the Construction Championship.
The situation is not just a matter of pilots. The RB21, although competitive in the hands of Verstappen, has shown limitations that Horner attributes to the evolution of the car in a specific direction. Despite this, Red Bull head insists that his team has not lost his capacity for innovation, remembering that just 18 months ago they dominated almost all races. The pressure is now to find solutions before the 2026 season brings a new set of regulations that could change the competitive order.
Great Britain’s Grand Prix in Silverstone will be a crucial test for Red Bull. Horner hopes that the team can help Tsunoda recover confidence and, at the same time, keep Verstappen committed to the project. But with Mercedes on the prowl and rumors of a possible interest of Aston Martin in both pilots, the future of Red Bull asshole a thread. Can Horner convince Russell to join the team? Or will it be Verstappen who makes the leap into a new horizon? Formula 1, as always, promises unexpected emotions and twists.
