Red Bull Racing Faces Turbulent Times as Horner Exits
Christian Horner’s abrupt departure from Red Bull Racing has left the team grappling with a significant downturn in performance, poised to achieve its worst constructors’ championship finish since 2015. Following a record-breaking 2023 season, Red Bull has seen a stark regression, currently sitting in fourth place with 172 points after the first half of the 2025 campaign, trailing frontrunner McLaren by a staggering 288 points.
Performance Overview
As highlighted in the following breakdown, Red Bull’s results reflect a downward trajectory:
| Year | Finishing Position |
|---|---|
| *2025 | *4th |
| 2024 | 3rd |
| 2023 | 1st |
| 2022 | 1st |
| 2021 | 2nd |
| 2020 | 2nd |
| 2019 | 3rd |
| 2018 | 3rd |
| 2017 | 3rd |
| 2016 | 2nd |
| 2015 | 4th |
*Note: 2025 season ongoing.
Recent races have been challenging for Max Verstappen, who has suffered from a mix of tactical errors and unfortunate incidents, including a self-inflicted penalty in Spain and a collision at the Red Bull Ring. His results have been disappointing, finishing 10th and struggling to outpace rivals like Nico Hulkenberg.
Upcoming Challenges and Potential Solutions
Looking ahead to Belgium, Red Bull plans to introduce upgrades for the RB21, which could enhance performance despite ongoing issues with car balance and tire wear—especially problematic given Hungary’s upcoming high-downforce circuit. Nevertheless, Verstappen remains optimistic about regaining a competitive edge, particularly in favorable weather conditions.
“Yuki Tsunoda’s contributions have been minimal with only seven points to Verstappen’s 165 this season,” said a Red Bull advisor, highlighting the team’s need for stronger performance in the second seat. Despite earlier hesitations, team principal Laurent Mekies appears committed to supporting Tsunoda, citing improvements in recent weeks.
Helmut Marko expressed cautious optimism: “We’re hopeful Tsunoda’s progress will translate into results soon. He’s shown an upward trend, particularly in practice sessions.”
Verstappen’s Perspective on the Title Fight
Verstappen remains cautiously hopeful regarding his title ambitions. "We’re far from writing off the championship," Marko stated, emphasizing that the next twelve races present ample opportunities for points.
However, Verstappen lamented, "We can’t compete at every track. Silverstone was more suited to our car, but the average performance needs improvement, particularly in tire management."
In conclusion, Red Bull Racing’s immediate prospect hinges on a successful recovery from current challenges while leveraging strategic updates and revitalizing driver performance ahead of crucial races.
