Ralf Schumacher says Max Verstappen would be ‘significantly faster’ in Racing Bulls car right now

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Ralf Schumacher has called Red Bull’s 2026 Formula 1 car a ‘disaster’ and suggested that Max Verstappen would be better off driving for sister team Racing Bulls.

Verstappen enters this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix eighth in the world championship with just eight points, having retired from the Chinese GP last time out due to a loss of power. It’s his worst start to a season since 2018, just his second full season at Red Bull.

Racing Bulls are level on points with Red Bull in the constructors’ standings right now after strong returns from Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson in the opening two races.

Would Max Verstappen be complaining about F1’s 2026 regulations if he had joined Mercedes?

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Ralf Schumacher hits out at ‘disaster’ Red Bull car

Verstappen said over the radio in China that the car felt worse than ever, and Schumacher agrees that they are in a state of disarray.

He even told F1-Insider that Verstappen would be ‘significantly faster’ if he swapped places with Lawson or Lindblad.

This is a familiar narrative. Last season, some paddock insiders felt Racing Bulls had a better car than Red Bull for much of the year, with the frontrunners reliant on Verstappen’s remarkable talent.

• READ MORE: Yuki Tsunoda says he left Liam Lawson a ‘stunning car’ at Racing Bulls in 2025

“I think Red Bull are there on the engine side, but of course, there is also a need for it,” said Schumacher. “To put it mildly, the car is a disaster.

“Perhaps they should get the car from the junior team, because I think Max would be significantly faster with it.”

Last year, Yuki Tsunoda was beaten by both Racing Bulls drivers in the championship. Isack Hadjar has at least found the Red Bull easier to drive than his predecessors, posting three straight Q3 appearances at the start of the year.

Are Red Bull looking to sell the Racing Bulls team?

Data from the Chinese GP showed that Racing Bulls were faster than Red Bull on the straights, despite running the same power unit.

Red Bull gained some time back in the corners, but Verstappen’s onboard footage suggested that they were still lacking downforce.

Off the track, there are fresh rumours that Red Bull could look to sell Racing Bulls amid fresh interest from Chinese firms.

Depending on the exact terms of the deal, that could deny them the opportunity to blood young talent in the midfield, which has been a valuable asset. The flip side, of course, is that they could earn billions through the transaction.