Max Verstappen loves Red Bull after a surprising decision that causes a big drama after the GP of Spain!
The Grand Prix of Spain from 2025 will enter the history books as one of the most controversial races of the Formula 1 season, and Max Verstappen is the center of a storm of drama and frustration. The Dutch four -time world champion, who has been struggling with the performance of his Red Bull RB21 for the entire season, was furious after an unexpected strategic decision of his team that led to a disappointing outcome in Barcelona. What exactly happened, and why does this race have such an impact on Verstappen and Red Bull Racing?
The weekend started with high expectations for Red Bull. After a disappointing performance in Monaco, where Verstappen finished fourth, the team hoped that the circuit would better match the Barcelona-Catalunya with the characteristics of the RB21. New updates to the car, mainly focused on the front wing to comply with the stricter FIA regulations around flexible wings, were received with optimism. Verstappen himself confirmed for the race that Red Bull came up with a package of improvements, hoping to close the gap with the dominant McLaren of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The Dutchman, who is 25 points behind the World Cup leader Piastri, saw Spain as an opportunity to breathe new life into his title race.
But it went wrong during the race. A late safety car caused chaos in the pit lane, and Red Bull made a daring decision to put Verstappen on hard tires, while most competitors opted for softer compounds to be faster in the final phase. This choice turned out to be disastrous. The hard tires performed substandard, and Verstappen not only lost speed, but also became involved in incidents with Charles Leclerc and George Russell. The contact with Russell earned him a time penalty, so that he fell back from a potential podium place to the tenth position. To make matters worse, the FIA is investigating a possible extra punishment for the incident with Leclerc, which may result in even more penalty points. With eight penalty points in his name this season, a suspension for a race is like a dark cloud above his head.
Verstappens frustration was felt after the race. About the on -board radio he showed his dissatisfaction: “What nonsense is this again? This is unbelievable!” According to sources, he even skipped the teamdo, which is unusual for the normally so professional driver. His anger focused primarily on the strategic blunder of Red Bull, who, according to him, ruined the race. “We had a chance to fight for the stage, but these kinds of decisions make life unnecessarily difficult for us,” said Verstappen in an interview with GPBlog. He also pointed to the broader problems within the team, including the recent staff changes and the departure of key figures such as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, who have undermined the stability of Red Bull.
The situation at Red Bull has been tense for some time. Earlier this season, the decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda as a teammate of Verstappen already frowned eyebrows. F1 reporter Erik van Haren called this choice in an episode of the Telegraafkwartier a sign of “Pure Panic” within the team. The instability, combined with the backlog at McLaren in both the driver and constructors’ championship, has led to speculation about Verstappen’s future. Although he has repeatedly said that he wants to finish his career at Red Bull, insiders whisper that a departure for another team, such as Mercedes, is no longer unthinkable.
For Red Bull, the Grand Prix of Spain is a wake-up call. Team boss Christian Horner tried to limit the damage by emphasizing that the team learns from his mistakes, but the pressure is increasing. The updates that were introduced in Spain did not have the desired effect, and McLaren still seems to have a lead, thanks in part to their controversial flexible front wings, which are now under stricter FIA control. Verstappen himself remained sober about the change in line: “I did not expect any miracles, and they did not happen either.”
The question now is how Red Bull and Verstappen continue. With a possible criminal investigation and an imminent suspension, the team has to act quickly to restore their star rider’s confidence. For Verstappen, who is used to dominance, this season is a test of patience. The upcoming races, starting with the Grand Prix of Canada, will be crucial to determine whether Red Bull can break the downward spiral and keep Verstappen in the struggle for the world title. For the time being, the Dutchman remains combative, but the frustration is clear: “We have to solve this, otherwise it will be a long season.”
