Red Bull still haven’t resolved Max Verstappen issue that Martin Brundle was furious about last season

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Red Bull Racing are only happy when they’re winning which is a fair assumption about any team in the Formula 1 paddock.

However, Max Verstappen and Red Bull have gotten very used to being at the top of the standings in recent years.

Verstappen has won the last four drivers’ championships and is on course to challenge both McLaren drivers for a fifth consecutive title this season.

However, Red Bull fell off the pace last season and regaining the constructors’ championship was suddenly out of the equation, and this year, that goal already looks out of reach.

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko made the incorrect decision to replace Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda was given just days to prepare for an unexpected promotion to try and steady the ship on the other side of the garage.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a positive weekend for Red Bull, with Verstappen earning pole position and only narrowly missing out on victory to Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen was given a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at the first corner of the race, something he and his team disagreed with.

Horner brought picture evidence to his post-race briefing to try and explain why the penalty was unfair, but didn’t go as far as to appeal the decision.

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Red Bull repeating Max Verstappen behaviour over the team radio at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Talking on the team radio during the race, Verstappen initially said, “Ah, he just forced me off. There was no intention of him to make that corner.”

After the safety car period, his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase said, “Information, you have been given a five-second time penalty for the incident at turn one. Head down.”

Verstappen replied, “Wow, that is bloody lovely,” to which Lambiase responded: “Yep, no comment.”

At the end of the race, Lambiase said, “What can I say mate? A well executed race.”

Verstappen replied, “Yeah, I mean we did everything right. So, well done guys. I gave it everything I had, it is what it is. We move on, this weekend has been a lot more positive for us, so well done.”

Horner then congratulated his driver and said, “Yeah, well done Max. That was good pace throughout the race, you finished 2.8 seconds behind Piastri.

“Obviously, that first corner, we’ve all got our opinions on, and good points today. But most importantly, very good pace.”

Verstappen concluded, “Yeah, exactly that. Well done everyone.”

It’s a very similar situation to what happened at last year’s Austrian Grand Prix when Verstappen clashed with Lando Norris.

The Dutchman was penalised in that situation as well, much to the disappointment of his Red Bull team.

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Martin Brundle disappointment with Red Bull radio messages

At last season’s race in Austria after the collision with Norris, Verstappen was told on the team radio, “Max [Verstappen], heads up, you were given a ten-second penalty for that incident with Lando [Norris]. Just in case you were quizzed about that after the race.”

Verstappen replied: “Of course, yep sure. That’s just ridiculous. You could just send it left or right, what do you want me to do?”

The team got back on the radio and said, “Yeah, he didn’t behave correctly there Max, so yeah, desperately unlucky, especially here, but you did your very best.”

Brundle didn’t agree with Red Bull’s approach that day, and said on commentary working on Sky Sports F1, The trouble is if you’re like that, it’ll happen again, won’t it? I don’t agree with that.”

Once the stewards decided that Verstappen was in the wrong for cutting the corner in Saudi Arabia, he and the team needed to get on with it.

Instead, Horner once again questioned the decision, and while not everyone has been in agreement that the penalty was fair, the vast majority believe it was the right call.

Verstappen’s aggressive driving style is unlikely to change, and Piastri has so far dealt with it expertly.

But Red Bull aren’t helping themselves with how they speak to Verstappen on the team radio at times, and ultimately, it could end up catching them out.