F1 News Today: Max Verstappen Demotion as FIA Confirms Penalty Ruling unveiled… Read more
F1 News Today: Karun Chandhok Suggests Max Verstappen Demotion as FIA Confirms Penalty Ruling
The Formula 1 weekend at Zandvoort has delivered a mix of drama, controversy, and surprise results. One of the most eye-catching moments came during Saturday’s qualifying session for the Dutch Grand Prix, where Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar stunned the paddock by claiming a sensational fourth place on the grid. The unexpected achievement has reignited debates about the form of reigning world champion Max Verstappen, with Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok going as far as suggesting a possible demotion for the Dutch driver.
Verstappen, racing in front of his home fans, could only manage third on the grid. He will start behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, who put his McLaren on pole, and team-mate Lando Norris, who secured second place. While the Red Bull driver’s performance was solid, it was overshadowed by the brilliance of Hadjar, who showed composure and determination to outpace more experienced rivals.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the session, former F1 driver Chandhok was full of praise for the young Frenchman’s breakthrough. “That was an incredible effort from Isack Hadjar to qualify fourth,” he said. Chandhok then made a provocative remark, adding: “I would love to see what would happen if you put Max Verstappen in that Racing Bulls!” His comment reflected the growing frustration at Red Bull, where Verstappen has struggled to extract the best from the RB21 car throughout the 2025 season.
This year has been a far cry from Verstappen’s dominant past campaigns. Despite his reputation as one of the sport’s most ruthless competitors, both his current team-mates and the junior Red Bull squad drivers — Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda — have looked more comfortable at times in their machinery. The contrast has raised questions about whether Red Bull’s star driver would benefit from spending time with the Racing Bulls outfit to rediscover form and confidence.
Hadjar, meanwhile, was ecstatic as he crossed the line in qualifying. His raw emotions spilled over the team radio: “I’m so happy, what the f***, let’s go! The last corner I went all in, all in. This feels too good, man.” The rookie later explained in interviews that he had to push to his absolute limit after Lawson had been faster for most of the session. “I had to dig very, very deep to find something special, but the car felt strong on that last lap,” Hadjar said. “Tyre warm-up was perfect, the lap was clean, and the team did a fantastic job.”
The mood at Racing Bulls has been one of harmony and positivity, in stark contrast to the atmosphere at Red Bull Racing’s senior team. Verstappen and Tsunoda have both struggled to perform at their peak in 2025, leading to speculation about potential reshuffles. However, Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane quickly dismissed the idea of Verstappen being loaned to his squad.
Speaking to Sky’s Craig Slater, Permane was direct: “What about Max Verstappen having a practice session in the Racing Bull? Maybe to help them out with some of the issues they’re trying to solve,” Slater asked. Permane responded firmly: “Absolutely not. Zero at all. I’m sure they’re focused on their own thing, getting the most out of their package, and we’re doing the same here.”
With Verstappen’s struggles continuing, Chandhok’s suggestion may have sounded radical, but it highlights the growing scrutiny around the Dutchman’s form. For now, though, Red Bull appears determined to solve its problems internally, while Racing Bulls will enjoy their moment of celebration with Hadjar’s standout qualifying result.
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