Red Bull branded 'weakest link' as F1 title fight intensifies

Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has branded Red Bull the "weakest link" among 2026's leading teams, as the Milton Keynes outfit remains the only front-runner without a victory. His assessment follows McLaren's Hungary triumph, which has reshaped an increasingly volatile title fight.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's slump has thrown the season wide open. With Ferrari, Mercedes, and now McLaren all posing credible threats, the once-dominant squad faces mounting pressure to recover before the championship slips from its grasp.

The details:

• Steiner told the Red Flags podcast that Red Bull is the "weakest link" in a lead pack featuring Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren, claiming the team currently lacks race-winning machinery.
• Red Bull has four podiums this season but is the only top-four team yet to win, a dramatic drop-off from its recent title-winning standards.
• McLaren's Hungary victory was its first of 2026 and followed a major upgrade package, prompting Steiner to declare the Woking squad is "back in the mix for real."
• Max Verstappen salvaged second at the Hungaroring despite struggling all weekend, with Steiner attributing the result to the Dutchman's opportunism rather than car pace.
• The former Haas chief highlighted the season's unpredictability, pointing out that Ferrari looked dominant in Friday practice at Hungary but failed to convert that promise.

What's next:

Red Bull can no longer rely on Verstappen's brilliance alone to cover the RB's shortcomings. If the team cannot unlock decisive upgrades in the coming rounds, the Milton Keynes squad risks being dragged into a three-way fight that leaves it trailing Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren.