Red Bull now risk upsetting Max Verstappen with Christian Horner’s big decision ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen has won the Austrian Grand Prix a record four times and boasts five all-time wins around the Red Bull Ring, having also won the Styrian Grand Prix once.

The circuit in the foothills of the Styrian Alps in Spielberg has regularly been a happy hunting ground for Verstappen over the years. He adores the layout of the venue owned by Red Bull, with Verstappen a master of the track’s negative camber corners and fast Turn 6 left-hander.

Red Bull saw Verstappen win the team their home race with Austrian GP wins in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023, plus the 2021 Styrian GP. The 27-year-old was even in the fight to win at the Red Bull Ring until Verstappen crashed into Lando Norris while leading the 2024 Austrian GP.

Red Bull’s 2025 Austrian GP upgrades may be their last before focusing on F1’s 2026 rules

Verstappen will hope to score another win in Spielberg with Red Bull affording the four-time champion a raft of upgrades for the 2025 Austrian GP. The Milton Keynes crew have built on the underbody they introduced in Miami, rear suspension at Imola and front wing in Spain.

Motorsport adviser Helmut Marko has stated Red Bull’s Austrian GP upgrades will be refined for the British GP, too, where they also hope to have the updates on Yuki Tsunoda’s car. Only Verstappen has Red Bull’s upgrades in Austria as they rushed to get a package ready in time.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and chassis regulations

But Motorsport-Total also claims that the upgrades introduced at the Austrian GP will ‘likely’ be the final major update package that Red Bull will bring before shifting their focus entirely onto the 2026 F1 regulations. Red Bull do not want to risk falling behind with next year’s car.

It is already expected that Red Bull will be behind Mercedes with their 2026 F1 rules engine, with the Milton Keynes crew building their own power unit for the new regulations. Red Bull united with Ford for its help with the electronical aspects with Honda going to Aston Martin.

Christian Horner risks upsetting Max Verstappen with Red Bull’s upgrade plan jeopardising his 2025 title bid

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner risks upsetting Verstappen by giving the green light to the Austrian-owned outfit shifting their focus to the 2026 F1 regulations following the set of updates due this weekend, though. Verstappen is already unsure about Red Bull’s update.

Motorsport-Total adds quotes from Verstappen discussing Red Bull’s updates at the Austrian GP, noting: “Now, we have a few races coming up where things could change. We’ll see how much this package really contributes. Hopefully, it helps, but I don’t know if it’s enough.”

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So, if Horner does elect against bringing any further upgrades to the RB21 after the Austrian GP, Verstappen will wonder if his run as the reigning champion will end this season. The 27-year-old arrived in Austria trailing F1 drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri by 43 points.

Verstappen is third in the standings ahead of round 11 of the 2025 F1 season at the Red Bull Ring, with Piastri holding 198 points and Norris sitting on 176 leading the Dutchman on 155. Mercedes’ George Russell is fourth in the standings ahead of the Austrian GP on 136 points.

Horner can hardly afford to upset his star driver right now, as well, as Red Bull fear the 2025 Austrian GP will be Verstappen’s last with the team as he considers a move to Mercedes for 2026. The Silver Arrows are yet to give Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli a contract for 2026.