Red Bull ‘sources’ fear causing ‘a stir in the paddock’ if they make one Max Verstappen decision

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Red Bull are enduring their worst season in 10 years, which also looks set to see four-time defending F1 drivers’ champion Max Verstappen’s reign come to an end in 2025.

The Milton Keynes squad have hit the summer break ranking only fourth in the constructors’ standings with 194 points through the first 14 of the 24 rounds. Not since 2015 when Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat were at the wheel of the RB11 have Red Bull ended a term as low.

Red Bull have also been relying solely on Verstappen to keep Ferrari and Mercedes honest in the fight for second place in the constructors’ standings behind runaway leaders McLaren. A vast 365 points separate Red Bull and McLaren, as well as 66 to Ferrari and 42 to Mercedes.

Verstappen has also scored 187 of the points that Red Bull have posted so far in the 2025 F1 season to sit third in the F1 drivers’ championship. But his performances this term still leave the Dutchman 97 points behind leader Oscar Piastri and 88 to Lando Norris after 14 rounds.

Red Bull fear letting Max Verstappen drive a Racing Bulls VCARB 02 would cause ‘a stir’

The issue for Red Bull this term is that the RB21 has proven to be a difficult beast for initially Liam Lawson and latterly Yuki Tsunoda to tame. Only Verstappen has consistently been able to cope with the RB21’s slim operating window, which makes Red Bull’s car difficult to drive.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Tsunoda started the season at Racing Bulls, and he scored three of his mere 10 points so far in 2025 before stepping up to Red Bull this March. Red Bull demoted Lawson back to Racing Bulls after just two rounds, yet the 23-year-old has got his career F1 back on track in Faenza.

The VCARB 02 being a more docile car with a wider operating window has seen Lawson earn 20 points across the past seven rounds. Isack Hadjar has even scored 22 points in his rookie season, teasing suggestions that Red Bull should let Verstappen try Racing Bulls’ VCARB 02.

But Motorsport-Total reports that Red Bull ‘sources’ fear letting Verstappen drive the Racing Bulls VCARB 02 during a filming day could ‘cause a stir in the paddock’. Red Bull feel it would test an already delicate situation among rival crews who question them having a sister team.

McLaren would likely lead the criticism if Max Verstappen ever tested a Racing Bulls car

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has said that Racing Bulls’ B-team status for Red Bull poses a ‘big concern’, as it calls into question the fairness of Formula 1 when just one of the 10 teams on the grid owns two crews. Andrea Stella has also shared concerns about team independence.

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

Red Bull and Racing Bulls potentially deciding to stage a filming day for Verstappen to drive a VCARB 02 would only intensify McLaren’s concerns. But it could prove beneficial for Red Bull and Racing Bulls, with Verstappen able to clearly point out the differences between the cars.

Before their driver swap in March, Verstappen felt Lawson would fare better for Racing Bulls than Red Bull during the Kiwi’s troubled brief stint in Milton Keynes. The VCARB 02 instantly appeared to be kinder to drive than the RB21, and Verstappen’s prediction has proven true.

But Racing Bulls have already held two filming days with the VCARB 02 this year, after Hadjar and Tsunoda completed the permitted 200km during a shakedown back in February. Lawson and Hadjar later took the VCARB 02 out at Imola, as part of Racing Bulls’ family day, this July.