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Red Bull Racing is under mounting internal pressure following a disappointing Bahrain Grand Prix performance, where Max Verstappen could only manage a sixth-place finish. In the aftermath, key figures from the team, including Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, Pierre Waché, and Paul Monaghan, convened for crisis talks to address the technical issues that have been plaguing their car’s performance.

Horner acknowledged the issues were “obvious and exposed” and warned that a quick resolution was unlikely. Verstappen had managed to mask some of the car’s limitations during the Suzuka race, but Bahrain exposed the full extent of the team’s struggles.

“We understand where the issues are,” said Horner. “But implementing solutions will take time.”

Verstappen’s Frustration Grows

The Bahrain race has put Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull under increased scrutiny. Helmut Marko, a key figure at the team, described the result as “very alarming” and raised concerns over the team’s overall form. Verstappen, frustrated by the ongoing issues, bluntly stated:

“Everything that could go wrong, went wrong.”

Reports suggest Verstappen’s frustration reached its peak when his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, confronted Marko in the Red Bull garage following the race. Marko has previously mentioned that Verstappen has a performance clause in his contract that would allow him to leave the team if Red Bull cannot maintain competitiveness.

Ferrari and Hamilton Show Signs of Improvement

While Red Bull grapples with internal turmoil, Ferrari appears to be regaining its competitive edge. Lewis Hamilton, now racing for Mercedes, finished fifth, marking his best result of the season. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth, signaling that the team is closing the gap to McLaren and Mercedes.

Hamilton, who is still adapting to Ferrari after 12 years at Mercedes, expressed optimism about his progress:

“I think I’ve figured out how the car likes to drive… I learned a lot this weekend—probably more than any other.”

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur shared Hamilton’s optimism, emphasizing that the team’s partnership with the seven-time world champion is progressing positively:

“You won’t replace 12 years of collaboration in two weeks. But the mindset is good. We adapt the car to Lewis, and he adapts to us.”

Vasseur urged a calm and steady approach, recalling Ferrari’s resilience in previous seasons after slow starts. He remains confident that the team will regain its form soon.

“We just need to improve by hundredths of a second. I’m convinced we’ll do the job as before,” Vasseur said.

Bahrain Grand Prix Sets the Tone for the Season

While McLaren celebrated a dominant win with Oscar Piastri’s performance, Red Bull finds itself on the backfoot, trying to solve its technical issues. Ferrari, on the other hand, is steadily building momentum, while Mercedes continues to seek performance improvements.

For Verstappen, the road to defending his title now looks increasingly difficult—unless Red Bull can find solutions to their ongoing technical issues. As the season progresses, the team’s ability to adapt and address these challenges will determine whether they can stay competitive or lose ground to their rivals.