In 2024, Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive world title, but his journey to the crown was far from smooth. After a dominant start to the season, the Dutch driver saw his team slip to third place in the constructors’ championship. Behind the scenes, tensions had been brewing for some time. The friction between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner reached levels that threatened the stability of the racing team. Former driver Gerhard Berger views the internal struggles as a bad omen and fears that Red Bull is slowly crumbling.
Verstappen Sr. vs Horner: A Battle Behind the Scenes
The internal power struggle at Red Bull came to light in 2024. Verstappen Sr. demanded Horner’s departure after the season opener in Bahrain, just days after the team boss was cleared of misconduct. The feud flared up again at the Austrian Grand Prix, where Verstappen Sr. withdrew from a parade of F1 legends following criticism from Horner.
At the end of the season, Verstappen Sr. indicated that the situation within Red Bull had improved and there was a sense of unity once again. However, the question remains whether the rifts have truly healed or if the team’s foundations have been damaged.
The Beginning of the End
Former co-owner of Toro Rosso and key contributor to Red Bull’s initial successes, Berger, sees parallels with the downfall of other major teams. According to the ex-driver, the decline began shortly after the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022. “It takes years to build something, but it can crumble in no time,” Berger told Auto Motor und Sport. “No one expected everything to falter so quickly after Mateschitz’s death. These kinds of internal conflicts are often the beginning of the end.”
According to Berger, Red Bull always had a fresh and energetic image, but that has now disappeared. “The team always radiated optimism. Now, little of that remains. There are no clear positions anymore, and that is atypical for Red Bull.”
Uncertain Policy Around Pérez Highlights Chaos
Another point of concern for Berger was the lack of a clear strategy around Sergio Pérez. Despite mediocre performances, the Mexican was given a contract extension, while Red Bull in previous years never hesitated to quickly replace drivers. “It was clear that Pérez was no longer performing. Yet he got a new deal, which many experts did not understand,” says Berger. “Perhaps marketing played a role, but then the team kept postponing the decision. First three races, then another two… There was no clear line anymore. That was definitely different in Mateschitz’s time,” Berger added.
