Just when it seemed Red Bull had resolved its internal power struggles and conflicts, Max Verstappen caused a significant disruption.
During the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, the triple world champion's increasingly foul mood was more than noticeable, amid ongoing speculations about his commitment to the team beyond 2025.
Dutch outlets have revealed that a modified 'Verstappen clause' in Dr. Helmut Marko's contract with Red Bull might restrict the 26-year-old from leaving the team before the end of his 2028 agreement.
Marko has refuted these claims, stating, "No, it is certainly not the case that Max will definitely stay now because I have a different contract," during an interview with ORF.
"It is my contract that has been adjusted, not his. In what way it has been adjusted, I am of course not going to discuss in public. But it has no direct consequences for Verstappen."
Verstappen's irritability and harsh comments in Hungary could be attributed to the car's decreasing performance and what he termed as a "sh*t strategy" on Sunday.
De Limburger newspaper described the situation as, "The return of 'bad boy' Max Verstappen. Nervous, childish and the best at complaining."
There's speculation that Verstappen might have been sleep-deprived, having stayed up until nearly 3:30 AM on the morning of the race participating in a lengthy sim racing session.
Marko dismissed this speculation as well, remarking, "I don't remember what time Max went to bed in Imola - I think it was even later - but he still won the race," he explained. "Max has a completely different daily routine than me or normal people."
Some commentators believe that Verstappen is struggling to adjust to not dominating Formula 1 as he had in previous years.
"Verstappen has lost his composure," former F1 driver Christian Danner told Bild newspaper.
"When you have a car that you can always drive at the front with, you are relaxed. But now he just has to grit his teeth and fight again. He quickly becomes uncomfortable - and it then erupts in the emotions that we saw and heard in the race.
"On the one hand, it is of course very entertaining, but in the current situation, it is not very funny for the team. To describe his strategy department as a failure is a bold move," Danner continued. "They are all real experts. In 99 out of 100 cases, Red Bull's strategies are perfect. The way he spoke about it is counterproductive."
Former F1 team boss Gunther Steiner, however, believes Verstappen will recover from this phase soon.
"If you're used to dominating for as long as Max did, you have to get used to being the pursuer again," he observed. "This will pass and then we'll see Max at his best as a fighter again."
When questioned if a triple world champion should exhibit better behavior, Steiner responded, "Not everyone is the same and Max is still young."
Following a collision with Lewis Hamilton in Hungary, it was Hamilton who approached Verstappen for a handshake in the interview area.
"I broke the ice rather than just walk past him," the seven-time world champion remarked. "I thought that was the respectful thing.
"I have no problem and think it was a racing incident. He sent it down the inside, it didn't work out, we move on."
Marko, meanwhile, emphasized the necessity for Red Bull to intensify their efforts, "The car doesn't have the balance or the confidence that Max needs, or let me put it this way, we can't manage on our own to be in front at the moment," he said. "But we are leading in both world championships - it's not as if everything is lost. The lead is not reassuring, but it is there.
"So we have to work harder - more has to come. We cannot afford to make any mistakes, otherwise the McLarens will be there."
