F1 News: Red Bull to roll out more upgrades to its RB21 dog

While other teams are focused on their 2026 car designs, Red Bull plans more upgrades to its RB21 dog in the hopes Max Verstappen stays third in the championship so he can’t just walk away from his contract.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The team made a major change during the three-week gap between Silverstone and Spa, letting Christian Horner go after 20 years in charge in the hopes that Max Verstappen would not quit because his father Jos hates Horner.

Laurent Mekies will replace Horner for the first time at Spa, having moved over from sister team Racing Bulls

Verstappen’s $70m-a-year deal with Red Bull, which runs through 2028, includes a release clause that could come into play at the end of 2025. If he’s outside the top three in the standings after the Hungarian Grand Prix, scheduled for a week after Belgium, he could choose to walk away without paying a fee.

The clause is triggered if he is outside the top three in the drivers’ standings after the Hungarian Grand Prix, which follows the Belgian GP.

The team will roll out new upgrades at Spa and again at the Hungaroring a week later.

Red Bull Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko told the Osterreich news outlet that “There are still 332 points up for grabs, which is a decent package. We hope the updates we’re bringing to Spa and Budapest will have an impact.

“Yes and no,” Marko added on whether the Spa Sprint race can be helpful “On the one hand there are more points up for grabs. But on the other hand two practice sessions are cancelled.

“We can’t afford a disaster Friday practice and then get the car into right tire window. Everything has to be right right from the start.”

The Red Bull RB 21 dog is so slow no one can drive it fast except the talented Max Verstappen. Verstappen is so good he destroys all his teammates and the RB21 dog is so slow, Verstappen’s teammates struggle to make it out of Q1.

If not for Max Verstappen, Red Bull would be last — Former Haas Team Boss Gunther Steiner