Red Bull worries about Verstappen's future amid performance issues
- Red Bull Racing is facing performance struggles that are impacting Max Verstappen's standings in the championship.
- Verstappen finished sixth in Bahrain after a previous victory at Suzuka and is currently third overall.
- Team advisor Helmut Marko highlighted concerns that without improvements, Verstappen may consider exiting the team.
In Bahrain, the operational challenges faced by Red Bull Racing during the recent Grand Prix have sparked significant concern regarding their star driver, Max Verstappen. After an impressive win at Suzuka, Verstappen experienced a disappointing performance, finishing in sixth place at Bahrain. This slump raised alarms within the team, especially as they lag behind McLaren in the Constructors' Championship. Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor, articulated worries that Verstappen might trigger an exit clause in his contract if the team does not provide a competitive car. Currently, Verstappen stands third in the Drivers' Championship, trailing Lando Norris of McLaren by eight points. Red Bull's performance is under scrutiny, with both pitstop issues and car balance being recurring themes in their analysis as they attempt to regain their competitiveness. They are now confronted with the significant task of enhancing their vehicle's performance rapidly, or they risk losing their lead driver.