Berger's stark warning: Red Bull facing 'the beginning of the end'

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Former F1 driver and team owner Gerhard Berger has cast a critical eye over Red Bull Racing's affairs, suggesting that the team's off-track turmoil in early 2024 may have marked "the beginning of the end" for the once-dominant outfit.

Speaking candidly to Auto Motor und Sport, the Austrian didn't hold back in his assessment of how the Milton Keynes-based team has handled its internal challenges under the leadership of team principal Christian Horner.

As someone deeply intertwined with Red Bull's history – both as the first F1 driver the energy drinks giant sponsored in 1989 and later as co-owner of its sister team Toro Rosso – Berger's words carry weight.

But his sharp critique of Red Bull's recent struggles paints a picture of a team losing its way under pressure.

A Team in Turmoil

The 2024 season began with a storm cloud hanging over Red Bull, as allegations of misconduct were leveled against Horner.

While the Briton was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing, the incident undoubtedly unsettled the atmosphere within the team.

"It is often the beginning of the end when such issues are brought up," Berger remarked bluntly, pointing to the damaging nature of internal strife in Formula 1.

"Formula 1 is so complex and so competitive that you can only succeed if everyone in the team pulls together, if everyone agrees and communicates well with each other," he explained.

The ten-time Grand Prix winner argued that the allegations marked a stark departure from the team's traditional image.

"The Red Bull brand has always radiated cheerfulness and a cool image. All of a sudden, everything changed."

At the time, Jos Verstappen, father of reigning champion Max Verstappen, echoed similar concerns, openly questioning Horner's leadership and predicting that Red Bull could unravel under his continued tenure.

Though Red bull's team boss emerged unscathed and reaffirmed his long-term commitment to the team, Berger believes the damage was already done, and a lingering sense of disarray remains.

Signs of Disarray: The Perez Debacle

Berger highlighted a breakdown in decision-making and communication within Red Bull, pointing specifically to how the team handled Sergio Perez's struggles.

The Mexican driver's inconsistent performances in 2024 drew widespread criticism, yet Red Bull opted to extend his contract before eventually subjecting him to a series of vague performance deadlines.

"Completely untypical for the team, there are no clear statements anymore," Berger observed.

"Let's take Perez as an example. That he no longer delivers the performance has been seen. That they still gave him a contract again was not understood by anyone in the industry."

Berger speculated that external pressures, such as marketing considerations or existing contractual obligations, may have influenced Red Bull's decisions, but he noted how indecision ultimately undermined the team's authority.

"When things didn't improve afterwards, they gave him three more races, then two more, and avoided making a decision," Berger added, describing this indecisiveness as a marked contrast to the decisive leadership of Red Bull's late founder, Dietrich Mateschitz.

A Shift from Mateschitz's Legacy

Berger contrasted this perceived indecision with the clarity and decisiveness that characterized Red Bull under Mateschitz's leadership.

"In Mateschitz's times, Red Bull was always famous for its clarity," he concluded.

The Austrian implied that the team's former founder wouldn't have allowed the kind of chaos or ambiguity that has surfaced in recent months.

Under Mateschitz, Red Bull was a brand that exuded confidence and cohesion – traits that now seem to be eroding under Horner's stewardship.

While the latter has pledged his commitment to leading the team well into the future, Berger remains skeptical of whether the internal unity and clarity that defined Red Bull in its prime can ever be fully restored.

For now, Red Bull remains competitive, but Berger's piercing critique serves as a reminder that no empire, no matter how powerful, is immune to collapse.

Read also: Horner doubles down: 'My commitment to Red Bull is absolute'

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