Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, has proclaimed that Red Bull’s era of dominance in F1 “is over.” He urged the team to address the increasing challenges from McLaren and Ferrari.
In a startling turn of events, Jos Verstappen has declared that Red Bull’s dominance in Formula 1 is waning. Since the introduction of ground effect regulations in 2022, Red Bull and Max Verstappen have ruled the tracks, with the younger Verstappen winning an astonishing 49 of the last 74 races. The team’s nearly flawless campaign last year, securing 21 out of 22 possible victories, had many expecting another seamless World Championship double in 2024.
However, this season has shown signs of shifting tides. Despite Max Verstappen winning five of the first eight races, the rising speed of Ferrari and McLaren has started to pressure Red Bull. The Monaco GP proved particularly challenging for Verstappen, who finished a distant sixth as Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s second victory of 2024, cutting Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ standings to 31 points.
Jos Verstappen, himself a former F1 driver with 106 starts between 1994 and 2003, voiced his concerns over Red Bull’s recent performance dips. He believes that his son’s exceptional driving has masked underlying issues with the Red Bull package. Speaking to De Telegraaf, he expressed doubt about the team’s future dominance.
“For sure, there will be tracks where Red Bull will perform well again, but I am very curious to see how they will address these problems,” Jos Verstappen stated. “They need to understand the source of these difficulties. Meanwhile, McLaren and Ferrari are closing in rapidly.”
He noted the stark performance gap between Max and his teammate, indicating deeper issues within the team. “Max has been good at hiding some of the problems, but you can see how big the difference is between him and his teammate. It seems to me that Red Bull’s period of dominance has come to an end.”
Despite these concerns, Max Verstappen remains confident in Red Bull’s ability to fight for the title. Before the Monaco Grand Prix, he argued that the team’s recent championship experience would make them “very tough” to beat in a direct battle for the World Championship.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Red Bull to see if they can reclaim their top spot or if Ferrari and McLaren will continue their ascent, signaling a new era in Formula 1.
