Breaking:Red Bull’s Championship in Jeopardy as Verstappen Nears Shock Sus…read more
Red Bull Racing faces serious uncertainty as Max Verstappen nears race suspension
Red Bull Racing is entering a precarious phase, as former McLaren and Lotus chief Eric Boullier warns of the team’s over-reliance on reigning World Champion Max Verstappen—who is now just one penalty point away from an automatic race ban.
The concern stems from a recent incident at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Verstappen was found solely at fault for a collision with George Russell. As a result, the stewards issued a 10-second time penalty and added three penalty points to his Super Licence, bringing his total to 11 out of a maximum 12. If Verstappen commits another infraction in either the Canadian or Austrian Grand Prix, he will face a mandatory one-race suspension.
A one-man title fight? Red Bull’s season hanging by a thread
So far this season, Verstappen has scored 137 of Red Bull’s 144 total championship points, illustrating just how dependent the team has become on his performance. Boullier emphasized that if Verstappen is sidelined—whether by penalty, illness, or injury—Red Bull’s campaign could quickly collapse. Unlike rivals such as McLaren and Mercedes, Red Bull doesn’t appear to have a strong backup capable of stepping up at short notice.
Praise mixed with warning: Verstappen the strength—and weakness
Boullier acknowledged Verstappen’s extraordinary talent and determination, noting his unique ability to extract the maximum from the car. But that very brilliance has made the team overly reliant on a single driver, creating a fragile structure that’s vulnerable to sudden disruption.
Uncertainty grows over Verstappen’s long-term future
There’s also growing speculation about Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull beyond 2025. If he finds himself out of title contention next season, reports suggest he may consider leaving the team—or even stepping away from the sport. Rumors linking him to Mercedes and Aston Martin are only adding to the atmosphere of instability.
Montoya adds pressure: No Plan B at Red Bull
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya echoed Boullier’s concerns, arguing that Red Bull lacks a clear successor to Verstappen. Speaking on his AS podcast, Montoya dismissed the idea of Yuki Tsunoda stepping into a lead role, citing inconsistent performances, and questioned whether reserve driver Liam Lawson has shown enough to be a viable option.
Montoya warned that if Verstappen leaves or is sidelined, Red Bull could be left scrambling for direction—especially with major rule changes set for 2026.
Conclusion: Red Bull’s success tied to a single thread
With Max Verstappen on the verge of suspension and long-term uncertainty looming, Red Bull’s grip on the championship could slip faster than expected. The team’s dominance is now balanced on a razor’s edge, with no clear safety net in place. Unless contingency plans are developed soon, one more mistake could unravel it all.
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