Ralf Schumacher claims ‘heads will roll over’ at Red Bull after dismal Italian GP

Red Bull has not won a Grand Prix in the last six events, a gap that was last witnessed four years ago.

Ralf Schumacher claims ‘heads will roll over’ at Red Bull after dismal Italian GP

Ralf Schumacher (via IMAGO)

Red Bull began its 2024 campaign with high hopes of recreating the success it achieved in 2023. However, as the season has progressed, the Austrian giant has plummetted through the field, as witnessed in Monza. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished P6 and P8 respectively. This led former F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher to claim that people would start losing their faith in the team as they weaken day-by-day in comparison to McLaren.

Max Verstappen won the season opener in Bahrain with an insane 22-second advantage. On the other hand, after the summer break the same gap between P1 and P2 was repeated but this time the Dutchman was the one finishing in the second spot. This change in fortune clearly defines the rollercoaster ride Red Bull has been on this year. Moreover, their lead in the constructor’s standings has shrunk to a mere eight points, which has earned them criticism from its own star driver.

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Subsequently, Ralf Schumacher reflected on the dire situation of the reigning champions.

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Honest answer? This will no longer work out. For me, Red Bull is finished for now. There is uncertainty and more heads will roll because of that uncertainty and because they are dissatisfied. Next, they have to start rebuilding first with new people and with the people who remain. Of course, they will come under enormous pressure from all sides. This is going to cause a chain reaction and these are all factors that are coming into play now, and Formula 1 moves too fast.
Ralf Schumacher said on Sky Germany

The 49-year-old further went on to add the following.

I have rarely seen a team that has deteriorated so much during the season. I can't think of any other example. We will soon go to circuits with more downforce, which seemingly suits Red Bull better, but even there this problem will keep coming back.
Ralf Schumacher said

The German elaborated that heads would start rolling over Red Bull as the team was in shambles. Stakeholders and staff don’t exhibit faith which has led to people leaving the outfit. Moreover, the 49-year-old reckons that the Milton Keynes-based squad would lose out on the championship at the current pace.

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Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

Red Bull has lost faith in winning the constructor’s championship

While Schumacher’s statement resounded in the paddock, a consensus has developed that Red Bull is no longer the team to beat. Moreover, Ferrari has also closed up on the Austrian manufacturer after its marvelous victory at the Italian GP.

Max Verstappen's Red Bull RB20
Red Bull RB20, image via Red Bull Racing

On the other hand, a Brazillian F1 journalist revealed that Red Bull has admitted that they would lose the constructor’s championship to McLaren and aims to aid Verstappen to win the driver’s title.

Someone from McLaren told me that a senior Red Bull executive told him that the Constructors’ Championship was already lost. Red Bull have already given up on the Constructors’ Championship and are now fully focused on the Drivers’ Championship because they no longer believe they can win the Constructors’ Championship
Julianne Cerasoli said as quoted by TheJudge13

Julianne Cerasoli stated that a Red Bull senior figure explained that the team knows the constructor’s championship is a lost cause. To stop wasting effort, the reigning champions have now focused on helping the 26-year-old in his bid to win the driver’s championship, revealing the dire circumstances that Red Bull currently finds itself in.

With Ferrari closing up in the championship, Red Bull has a real threat that the prancing horses might surpass them in the next few rounds. Thus, the Austrian giant could lose yet another spot in the constructor’s standings as McLaren securing the lead only remains a formality.

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