RacingA once-dominant Red Bull sits sixth in the standings after three races, behind Haas and Alpine, and Ralf Schumacher says the team is “a bit of a mess” with “a disaster” of a car. Max Verstappen has started to ask out loud if he even wants to keep racing. That is the backdrop as Schumacher dismisses talk of Charles Leclerc to Red Bull and urges the Ferrari driver to stay put.
Schumacher, an ex-Formula 1 driver and Sky Germany analyst, said on Sky Deutschland’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast that “Red Bull isn’t really the obvious choice in the current set-up.” He described Red Bull as “a bit of a mess,” said there is “no proper communication with the outside world,” and pointed to the absence of Dr. Helmut Marko as a guiding figure. He argued it would not make sense for Leclerc to leave a Ferrari that “is just starting to function properly.”
On performance, Schumacher said Red Bull’s form through three rounds paints the picture. He noted the team is only sixth in the Constructors’ Championship and said, “Obviously the car is a disaster… how often have we now seen Max Verstappen off the track? That has never happened before,” on Backstage Boxengasse. He criticized technical boss Pierre Wache, who took over after Adrian Newey, saying “from my point of view the shoes are too big for him,” while stressing Wache needs support. Schumacher recalled the 2025 car was at times undriveable before a late recovery, and said Racing Bulls have scored in every race this year and sit only two points behind Red Bull.
Amid that slump, Verstappen, a four-time world champion with a contract through 2028, has sounded uncertain about continuing. After qualifying P11 in Japan he told media, “I don’t get upset about it… a lot of stuff obviously for me, personally, to figure out,” adding “Life here” when asked what he needs to think about. The following day he told media in Japan, “I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock… You just think about, is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family… when you’re not enjoying your sport?”
The noise grew louder when McLaren announced Gianpiero Lambiase will join as chief racing officer when his Red Bull contract expires. Schumacher told Sky Sports Germany this could trigger a “sensational switch,” laying out two possibilities: Verstappen quits altogether, or he follows Lambiase to McLaren. Schumacher added a counter-scenario where Oscar Piastri is negotiated to Red Bull as part of such a move.
As for Leclerc, Schumacher said on Backstage Boxengasse he “can’t imagine Ferrari are actually considering” letting him go. He argued Ferrari must keep stability and “keep one, namely Charles Leclerc,” concluding that a move to Red Bull “is actually not advisable.”