Red Bull’s dominance in the 2024 Formula 1 season took another hit at the Dutch Grand Prix as Max Verstappen was forced to settle for a disappointing second place at his home race. Despite taking the lead early on, Verstappen could not hold off McLaren’s Lando Norris, who surged back to claim victory by a staggering 22 seconds. Now, Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, is openly criticizing Red Bull, saying the team needs to urgently address its issues.
Jos Verstappen didn’t hold back in his assessment, expressing his frustration with the team’s decision-making. He noted that Red Bull had reverted to an older car setup from earlier in the season—a move he believes underscores the team’s struggles. “They just don’t have it right here at the moment. I think they should take a good look in the mirror,” Jos said, highlighting his concerns about the team’s ability to maintain its competitive edge.
The elder Verstappen went on to suggest that Red Bull is in a “bad situation” and needs to seriously reassess its strategy. He emphasized that the team’s current approach is not sufficient to compete at the highest level, as evidenced by their inability to secure a win in the last five races. “Max is doing his best with what he has, but the car isn’t good enough to help him win races,” Jos added, expressing his disappointment with the car’s performance.
Max Verstappen’s qualifying performance at Zandvoort was a rare bright spot, as he managed to secure second place on the grid despite the car’s limitations. Jos acknowledged his son’s impressive effort but made it clear that without significant improvements, Red Bull’s prospects for the remainder of the season look bleak. “It’s impressive that Max qualified second with that car, but that’s not enough. They need to fix what’s going wrong,” he insisted.
With five races now gone without a victory for Verstappen, the pressure is mounting on Red Bull to identify and rectify the issues that have hampered their recent performances. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see if the team can regain its early-season form or if the struggles will continue to derail their championship hopes.
Photo from Jos Verstappen Instagram
