Red Bull Faces New F1 Reality as Verstappen Predicts Win Drought
If you told any Formula 1 fan a year ago that Max Verstappen would go public with doubts about Red Bull Racing’s ability to win in 2025, most would’ve laughed. Now, Verstappen isn’t joking. He’s raised eyebrows by suggesting Red Bull might not clinch any more race wins next year—a bombshell from the reigning champion who’s made winning look routine in recent years.
What’s changed? For starters, the team has gone through a massive internal shakeup. Christian Horner, the boss who steered Red Bull to countless victories and titles, is out. In his place is Laurent Mekies, who was Ferrari’s technical director before jumping ship. Anyone who follows F1 knows that changing the team principal isn't just about a new face on the pit wall—it’s a total reset in the way things work behind the scenes, from engineering calls to paddock politics.
Add to that a fresh batch of technical regulations hitting the 2025 season. These rules are supposed to make it harder for one team to dominate, and so far, that’s exactly what’s happening. McLaren’s pace has shot up this year, leaving Red Bull fighting just to keep up with the front of the pack. Verstappen’s podium finishes have kept fans satisfied, but those predictable Red Bull victories have dried up.
Trouble Brewing: Verstappen Eyes Other Teams as Uncertainty Grows
If things sound unstable, that’s because they are. Verstappen may be locked into a contract through 2028, but the paddock rumor mill is churning. Reports are already linking his management team with Mercedes. Toto Wolff isn’t hiding his interest—he’s openly flirting with the idea of Verstappen in a silver car, and why wouldn’t he? He’s the biggest prize on the F1 driver market.
It’s hardly lost on anybody that Mercedes and Aston Martin are improving fast. Mekies is under immediate pressure, not only to stop the bleed in results but also to keep his star driver happy. For drivers like Verstappen, loyalty only stretches as far as the car’s competitiveness. Who wants to be stuck mid-field when they’re used to battling at the front every weekend?
Of course, the stakes aren’t just about pride. With a new Ford engine partnership on the horizon, technical stability is out the window for now. Every race is a test, and every bad weekend provides an opening for rivals to lure Verstappen away. Fans are right to be nervous: if Red Bull doesn’t adapt fast, the coming season could be the most wide-open—and dramatic—we’ve seen in years.
