Explained: Are Max Verstappen's struggles at Imola signs of downfall for Red Bull?

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola proved to be one of the closest races of the ongoing season. Red Bull racer Max Verstappen defeated Norris by a margin of .7 seconds as he was struggling a lot on hard tyres. He was eight seconds behind the Dutchman when 20 laps were to go and he covered all the gap and reached so close. 

This was not the first occasion when Verstappen and Red Bull were struggling at Imola they had a very poor start to the week when they clocked below Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren on multiple occasions during free practice sessions. Now, this slump in their performance has raised questions about Red Bull’s dominance in the F1 grid. 

Red Bull’s dominance seems to be waning, with competitors gaining ground. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged this: "The cars are converging after the latest upgrades, they are looking very similar. McLaren were very quick at this circuit and Ferrari as well." Notably, Red Bull has already missed out on two wins after seven races during this season, a stark contrast to last year's 21 wins from 22 races.

One can call Lando Norris’ Miami win a result of a Safety Car and Carlos Sainz’s Australia win a mechanical fault in Red Bull but it was evident that Verstappen lacked pace in the later half of Miami too. He was nowhere close to Norris who was flying in his upgraded McLaren.

Why Monaco could be challenging for Red Bull? 

Signs of vulnerability at Red Bull are evident. Adrian Newey’s departure next year after 19 years, possibly to Ferrari, could be pivotal. The ongoing saga involving Christian Horner and accusations of “coercive behaviour” has also sparked speculation about Verstappen’s long-term future with the team, despite having the fastest car.

Red Bull may have reached a developmental ceiling after two years of dominance. Sergio Perez’s uncertain future adds to the team's instability. At Imola, Perez had a dismal performance, failing to qualify for Q3 and slipping to third in the drivers’ standings behind Leclerc. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, from Red Bull’s sister team, continues to impress, increasing the pressure on Perez.

Verstappen’s lead remains substantial—48 points ahead of Leclerc and 60 ahead of Norris. However, as Red Bull and Verstappen approach the unique Monaco circuit, they must start looking over their shoulders. What was once disdain might now include a hint of concern.