Tensions are rising within the Red Bull Racing garage after reigning World Champion Max Verstappen expressed frustration over persistent brake issues in the RB21, which cost him a crucial lead and dropped him out of podium contention during Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who started the race in pole position, looked poised for another dominant performance. But midway through the race, a series of braking issues allowed rivals to catch up and overtake him, eventually pushing him down to P4—a finish far below expectations for the Dutchman.

“Once again the brakes gave me problems,” Verstappen said after the race. “They were bad, unpredictable. I couldn’t push, and I couldn’t defend.”

A Recurring Nightmare for Verstappen

This isn’t the first time Verstappen has flagged braking concerns with the RB21. Throughout the season, he’s raised alarms about inconsistent brake feel, especially under high-speed pressure. But Sunday’s race marked the most costly episode yet, where a technical weakness directly impacted his championship campaign.

During lap 37, Verstappen was overtaken by two rivals on the main straight, visibly struggling to stop the car at Turn 1. By lap 42, he was radioing his pit wall repeatedly, expressing clear irritation:

“I have no grip. No bite. This is getting ridiculous!”

Red Bull Boss Reacts: Frustration Boils Over

Team principal Christian Horner did not hide his disappointment in a post-race interview. While carefully avoiding direct blame, his tone reflected the mounting pressure inside Red Bull’s usually dominant camp.

“We let Max down today,” Horner admitted. “We’ve got to get on top of these braking issues immediately. It’s not acceptable for a car of our caliber.”

Sources inside the team say that internal briefings have been called for early this week, with engineers tasked to identify the root cause of the recurring brake failure. Early speculation points to a cooling imbalance in the RB21’s brake-by-wire system, which may behave inconsistently depending on track temperature.

The Title Race Tightens

Verstappen’s drop to fourth place has narrowed the championship gap, giving new momentum to challengers from Mercedes and Ferrari. With only a handful of races left in the season, every point matters—and every technical glitch becomes a headline.

Red Bull had previously enjoyed a cushion thanks to Verstappen’s stellar performances, but recent errors—both mechanical and strategic—have opened the door for competitors. Verstappen remains in the lead of the driver standings, but his margin has shrunk to just 14 points, making the next race pivotal.

Verstappen’s Patience Wearing Thin?

Despite being known for his cool under pressure, Verstappen’s body language after the race told another story. Walking past the media with his helmet still on, the Dutch driver skipped early interviews, choosing instead to debrief with engineers behind closed doors.

When he did speak, his tone was cold:

“I don’t want to talk about what should have been. We either fix the issues or we fall behind. Simple as that.”

Some insiders believe that if Red Bull fails to address the problem before the next Grand Prix, Verstappen may demand changes to the technical team or even consider revisiting contract terms related to performance guarantees.

What’s Next for Red Bull?

The upcoming race offers little breathing room. The team has just five days to travel and prepare, and there are already calls for immediate upgrades or component replacements.

Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Waché, confirmed that “a complete diagnostic is underway,” and hinted at “possible hardware changes” if the problem proves difficult to solve via calibration alone.

For Verstappen and Red Bull, the message is clear: fix the brakes, or risk braking the season apart.

With championship hopes on the line and competitors closing in, the next race could determine whether Red Bull remains dominant—or begins to unravel under the weight of mechanical failure and mounting frustration.