Red Bull is going through one of the most difficult moments of the season. After a dominant start, Red Bull has collected the same number of points in the last four races as Oscar Piastri has collected alone, a figure that highlights the technical difficulties of the Milton Keynes team. With the Azerbaijan Grand Prix just around the corner, Max Verstappen has expressed his desire to bring Red Bull back to the top in Baku, aware that the team will have to deal with increasingly fierce competition. The last three editions of the Baku Grand Prix have been won by Red Bull, with Perez leading Max with 2 wins to 1. The Mexican was in fact the last winner in Baku, in the 2023 edition.
Verstappen's words ahead of Baku
Max Verstappen shared his expectations for the Baku weekend, highlighting the team's work to solve the problems that emerged in the last races:
“This week I returned to the factory with the team and worked on the simulator in preparation for the double-header. Monza was a difficult race and our priority is to become competitive again. The team has worked hard to improve the issues we have encountered with the car in recent races. It’s always a great challenge to come to Baku and it’s a particular track because, even though it’s a street circuit, it has long straights. We’ll see what the weekend brings.”
Verstappen's words reveal confidence in the team, but also the awareness that a decisive weekend is ahead of them. The Baku circuit, with its mixed characteristics, will be a test bench to test Red Bull's reaction capabilities.
Red Bull and the drop in performance
After dominating the start of the championship, Red Bull is in a moment of reflection. In recent races, the team has had to deal with a drop in performance that has allowed rivals like McLaren to close in. Oscar Piastri, with his increasing pace, has equaled the results of the two Red Bull drivers, a situation that was unthinkable until a few weeks ago. Red Bull clearly struggled at Monza, sparking further discussion about the need to find quick solutions before rivals can close the gap further.
Adrian Newey in Aston Martin and the rumors about Verstappen
Adding to Red Bull's difficulties are the transfer market. In particular, Adrian Newey's move to Aston Martin has sparked a strong debate, not only for the technical impact it could have on the team, but also for the speculation surrounding Verstappen's future. Some rumours suggest that Verstappen, with a contract until 2028, could still be attracted to the Aston Martin project in 2026, when the new regulations come into force. The idea of a new partnership between Verstappen and Newey, with Aston Martin growing thanks to the investment of Lawrence Stroll and the future partnership with Honda, is an intriguing scenario.
If Red Bull fails to return to its early season form and continues to struggle, it is possible that Verstappen could be tempted by a new challenge. The prospect of joining an expanding team, with a genius like Newey at the helm, could represent an exciting new phase in the Dutch champion's career. However, this is all speculation at the moment.
In this context, the Baku weekend represents not only a test of redemption for Red Bull, but also a reflection of the direction that the team and Verstappen himself could take in the near future.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
