Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 champion, is having a hard time in the 2025 season as McLaren emerges as an extremely dominant force. He is currently behind Oscar Piastri, the Championship leader, by 49 points. His quest for the first position is further made tougher since Red Bull has officially confirmed that he will not be getting any major updates for the rest of the 2025 season.
This sparks significant controversy among the F1 community since Verstappen’s contract is not yet renewed for 2026, and major challenges like these could result in him leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season. Ever since the major blunder at the Spanish Grand Prix 2025 by the team cost Max a pole position, the rumours have been unstoppable. So what exactly did Red Bull say? Let us take a look.
What Did Red Bull Announce?
Red Bull’s senior advisor, Helmut Marko, has announced that while little upgrades can be made, there is no such planning to completely change the car. He mentioned that all the major upgrades for the season have already been introduced, such as a new underbody and sidepods, and the team will only focus on minor upgrades now.
He said, “We’re working tirelessly on this and will continue to make small adjustments, but nothing major is planned. We’ve had some major updates in the past, such as a new underbody and new side-pods. But now it’s more about the details. We’ll continue developing as long as there’s a chance in the world championship. After that, the focus will shift entirely to the 2026 project.”
Helmut Marko Admits McLaren’s Dominance
While announcing the bad news for Max Verstappen, Marko also accepted McLaren’s dominance this season. He said, “Against the currently strong McLaren team, you only have a chance if everything goes perfectly. We have the perfect driver, but all the factors have to be right – the pit stops, the strategy, the car, and the tyre wear.”
“You have to get the car into the right working window and the tyres to the right temperature. Maybe it’s just a small adjustment that needs to be made. We often start very poorly in practice on Friday and manage to improve the car by qualifying, sometimes making it capable of a podium finish or even a win. However, we lack the consistency that McLaren demonstrates,” he added
Also Read: Can Max Verstappen Snatch The Trophy From McLaren Duo? Here’s What Oscar Piastri Thinks
