Max Verstappen once again reminded the world of his blistering one-lap pace by snatching pole position at the Baku City Circuit, but beneath the surface, the story of Red Bull’s weekend paints a far more complicated picture. What might look like dominance on the timing sheets is, in fact, laced with tension, uncertainty, and signs that Formula 1’s reigning powerhouse is under pressure.
The Dutchman’s pole was achieved through sheer brilliance threading the needle on Baku’s narrow streets, brushing walls at terrifying speeds, and extracting every ounce of performance from the RB21. But Verstappen’s celebrations were muted. Instead of the familiar swagger of recent years, there was an acknowledgment that the fight is tightening, and Red Bull may no longer be the invincible force of seasons past.
The concerns begin with reliability. Throughout the practice sessions, Verstappen and Sergio Pérez both reported problems with energy deployment and brake temperatures. Engineers worked late into the night chasing solutions, raising questions about whether the car’s carefully balanced design is being stretched too far on demanding circuits like Baku. While Verstappen managed to mask those weaknesses over a single lap, the long-run data hinted at struggles with tire degradation — a vulnerability that Ferrari and McLaren will be eager to exploit.
Then there’s the issue of intra-team dynamics. Pérez, once a master of street circuits and Red Bull’s “ace” in Baku, could not get close to Verstappen’s pace. His qualifying left him frustrated and off the front row, fueling whispers about his future within the team. With the championship battle tightening, Red Bull can ill afford a one-car fight, yet Pérez’s form has been erratic at precisely the wrong time.
Externally, rivals smell blood. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was within striking distance of Verstappen, pushing hard in the final sector before a small mistake cost him. McLaren’s Lando Norris, meanwhile, continues to grow in confidence, showing that his team’s recent upgrades are genuine threats to Red Bull’s supremacy. If either of them can pressure Verstappen into mistakes during the race, the pole could quickly prove a hollow achievement.
Even Christian Horner, usually bullish in defending Red Bull’s dominance, admitted that “the margins are tighter than we’d like” and that the team faces a serious challenge over race distance. The admission is telling — gone are the days when Red Bull entered Sundays expecting a comfortable cruise to victory. Now, every race is a dogfight.
For Verstappen, the pole is both a statement and a warning. It proves that he remains the grid’s most complete driver, capable of transcending machinery. But it also underscores that he may increasingly have to rely on his personal brilliance to carry Red Bull forward. The car that once looked bulletproof now shows cracks, and the rivals who once seemed distant are suddenly within touching distance.
Baku has always been a track of chaos and unpredictability. Verstappen’s pole might yet convert into a victory, but the whispers of trouble for Red Bull grow louder. One lap speed has masked deeper issues — and unless the team finds solutions quickly, their grip on Formula 1’s throne could begin to loosen.
