Inside Red Bull F1’s Collapse: The Two-Year Downfall Explained

The Red Bull F1 team disintegration has become one of the most dramatic stories in recent Formula 1 history. After years of dominance, the last two seasons have seen Red Bull Racing unravel due to a mix of technical missteps, high-profile staff departures, and internal turmoil. This post explores the key reasons behind the team’s rapid decline and what it means for their future.

1. Technical Decline and Car Development Issues

The Root of the Problem

• Red Bull’s troubles began with a critical development error in 2023. A floor upgrade introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix led to persistent handling and balance problems, especially for Sergio Perez. These issues were initially masked by Max Verstappen’s continued success, but they grew more severe in 2024, affecting both drivers.
• The RB20, Red Bull’s 2024 car, suffered from a fundamental balance disconnect. Fixing one area often led to new problems elsewhere, trapping the team in a “vicious circle” of performance issues.
• Technical director Pierre Wache admitted that the team was surprised by the scale of their early-season advantage, but as rivals improved, Red Bull’s underlying issues became impossible to ignore

Data and Simulation Failures

• Team principal Christian Horner revealed that Red Bull could no longer trust their simulation tools, as wind tunnel data no longer matched real-world performance. This made the development direction unreliable and compounded their struggles.
• Recent upgrades failed to deliver significant improvements, and the team reached the performance ceiling of their current car concept

2. Departure of Key Personnel

Loss of Technical Talent

• The last two years saw a “brain drain” from Red Bull, with senior engineers and technical leaders leaving. The most notable exit was design genius Adrian Newey, but others like Rob Marshall also departed for rival teams.
• Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, a long-time team member, announced his departure at the end of 2024, further destabilizing the organization.

Impact on Team Performance

• These departures led to gaps in expertise and disrupted the operational stability that once set Red Bull apart. The team struggled to attract external top talent to fill these roles, relying instead on internal reshuffles that could not fully compensate for the loss

3. Internal Conflict and Leadership Crisis

Christian Horner Controversy

• The team was rocked by off-track controversies involving team principal Christian Horner, including internal investigations and legal threats. This created a tense atmosphere and distracted from on-track performance.
• Rumors of a “civil war” within the team, particularly between Horner and senior advisor Helmut Marko, further eroded morale and stability.

Driver Instability

• Max Verstappen’s loyalty was tested amid speculation about his future, and the team’s second driver position became a revolving door, with neither Liam Lawson nor Yuki Tsunoda able to match Verstappen’s performance

4. Rival Teams Surging Ahead

• While Red Bull stagnated, rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes made significant gains. McLaren, in particular, overtook Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, while Ferrari also surpassed them by the end of 2024.
• Red Bull’s development budget was largely spent early in the season, leaving them unable to keep pace with the rapid progress of competitors

5. The Final Blow: 2025 and Beyond

• By mid-2025, Red Bull produced what many consider the weakest car of the Verstappen era. Verstappen managed only two wins in the first half of the season and fell well behind in the championship standings.
• The culmination of technical, personnel, and leadership crises led to Red Bull firing Christian Horner as team principal in July 2025, ending a 20-year tenure and symbolizing the team’s complete disintegration

The Red Bull F1 team’s disintegration is a cautionary tale of how rapid success can unravel due to a combination of technical missteps, loss of key personnel, and internal conflict. As the team looks to rebuild, the lessons from the last two years will shape their approach to the new era of Formula 1.