Villeneuve: Red Bull has 'lost its sparkle' after shedding its core leaders

1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Red Bull has "lost its sparkle" after shedding the key personnel who built its winning formula. Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Show, the Canadian claimed the team has become mired in internal politics, leaving only Max Verstappen and a strong internal combustion engine as bright spots in a squad now heading downward.

Why it matters:

Red Bull currently sits fourth in the constructors' standings, a dramatic drop from its championship-winning form, with persistent speculation that Verstappen could depart. Villeneuve's assessment highlights fears that the squad is dismantling the architecture that made it unbeatable, accelerating its decline amid continued internal power struggles.

The details:

• Villeneuve described Red Bull as having become "a very political place" over the past few years, with internal strife over leadership resulting in a revolving door of key figures.
• He argued the team has "gotten rid of everyone that's made this team what it is today," referencing exits including Christian Horner, Jonathan Wheatley, Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey.
• Max's isolation: The Canadian noted that Verstappen was "the last addition to the team" during its dominant era but is now "the last remaining soldier," unable to carry the technical burden alone despite his development strengths.
• Programme decay: Villeneuve also suggested Red Bull's young driver programme has collapsed, stating "nobody's talking about it anymore" as the infrastructure has been largely "destroyed."

What's next:

Rebuilding Red Bull will require settling its political turbulence and restocking a depleted technical department. Villeneuve cautioned that the team has not yet "reached the bottom," implying a lengthy recovery. Whether Verstappen commits to the rebuild or becomes the final casualty of the exodus remains the defining question for the team's future.