Verstappen’s Red Bull future in doubt after Bahrain GP

There was no hiding the tension inside the Red Bull Racing garage following a disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen’s manager reportedly unleashed a furious tirade at senior team advisor Helmut Marko in the wake of the team’s worst showing of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

After dominating the field just a week earlier in Japan, Verstappen endured a nightmare outing under the lights in Sakhir. Suffering from persistent brake issues and pit-stop mistakes, the reigning world champion could only salvage sixth place—his lowest finish of the season.

The Dutchman started as the longest-priced he’s been in four years, going off at +2600—a rare number for the three-time titleholder and a reflection of Red Bull’s fading dominance.

Verstappen’s underwhelming result saw him drop to third in the Drivers’ Championship standings, overtaken by McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who stormed to victory from pole position.

As tensions boiled over post-race, Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz revealed that Verstappen’s longtime manager, Raymond Vermeulen, “gave Helmut Marko a right piece of his mind” during a fiery confrontation in the Red Bull garage.

Witnesses say the confrontation ended with Vermeulen tearing off his paddock pass and storming out, leaving stunned onlookers in his wake.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner later admitted, “Nothing went our way from the start,” calling the Bahrain weekend a complete write-off. But behind the scenes, the pressure is mounting.

With McLaren and Mercedes both showing superior pace, Verstappen’s camp is clearly losing patience.

Despite being contracted through 2028, Verstappen’s future at Red Bull is now under serious scrutiny. Rumors are swirling about a potential switch to either Mercedes or Aston Martin in 2026. Aston Martin’s upcoming engine partnership with Honda—and possible reunion with Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey—has only fueled speculation.

After securing the 2024 Drivers’ Championship just four months ago, Verstappen is now priced at +1300 with leading sportsbooks to go back-to-back in 2025. That’s a massive drift for a driver who’s spent years as the benchmark of the sport.

If Bahrain was a warning shot, the scenes inside Red Bull’s garage made it clear: the alarm bells aren’t just ringing—they’re deafening.