Things are simmering at Red Bull
Verstappen wins despite trouble and a “terrible lap”
May 4, 2024, 5:58 a.m
Max Verstappen is the fastest in the sprint qualification – and is surprised about it. He makes mistakes on the Miami track, and his Red Bull racing team continues to crash violently, and yet the world champion leaves all competitors behind.
The unrest in the team and the impending departure of Adrian Newey left Max Verstappen completely cold in hot Miami. Unimpressed by all the background noise at Red Bull, the Formula 1 dominator secured pole position for the Miami sprint – and then mocked his fastest lap.
“How? I’m first? The lap was terrible,” said Verstappen and added: “It didn’t feel good at all.” The Dutchman was able to get over the bad feeling and was once again unbeatable. Behind the world champion were Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
Nico Hülkenberg in the Haas once again won the team’s internal duel with the Dane Kevin Magnussen and took tenth place on the grid. “It was good, but perhaps even more would have been possible,” said Hülkenberg on Sky, who left behind, among others, the two British Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton (twelfth) and George Russell (eleventh): “It’s extremely hot, I’m literally glowing.” In the third phase of qualifying, Haas “saved tires, let’s see if that works.”
Newey is silent about the future
But the focus this weekend is on Red Bull and Newey. The Brit, who has penned numerous world champion cars, is leaving Red Bull in the first quarter of 2025. The world champion team is trying hard to sell the separation as amicable and the “end of a great journey” – but things are simmering behind the scenes. Since the affair surrounding team boss Christian Horner, who an employee accused of “inappropriate behavior” during the winter break, became known, Red Bull has not been able to calm down.
The Red Bull Group dismissed the complaint at the end of February after a week-long investigation; there are differences in the team between Horner and Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. Max Verstappen’s father Jos also repeatedly commented on the matter.
Newey, it is said, could be drawn to Ferrari – there he would meet record world champion Hamilton from 2025. But the 65-year-old emphasized on Sky that he wanted to “enjoy the time first and maybe travel in a motorhome,” but changes to the regulations like those coming in 2026 “also appeal to me.” It is “too early” to talk about possible new employers.
In terms of sport, however, things are still going well – and Verstappen could even afford not to drive at the limit. After the sprint race on Saturday (6 p.m./RTL, Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker)in which up to eight championship points can be won, takes place in qualifying (22 O `clock) for the Grand Prix on Sunday (10 p.m./on Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker) instead of.