Red Bull handed stark warning: 'They're going down, and they haven't reached bottom yet'

After showing encouraging signs of progress between Miami and Canada, a run that culminated in Verstappen's first podium of the season in Montreal, Red Bull's momentum has once again stalled. Monaco proved to be a particularly painful weekend for the Milton Keynes-based team, with Verstappen suffering a costly retirement while Isack Hadjar initially secured a podium finish, only to lose it days later after Pierre Gasly successfully overturned his penalty. Matters did not improve in Barcelona either, where Red Bull lacked the pace of Ferrari and Mercedes throughout the weekend, leaving Verstappen to cross the line just outside the top three.

Speaking on the Sky F1 Show podcast, Villeneuve argued that Red Bull must do everything possible to keep Verstappen, describing him as the team's biggest asset. The 1997 world champion also pointed to the growing political tensions within the organisation, claiming internal power struggles and a series of high-profile departures have damaged the team's stability. According to Villeneuve, Red Bull is currently heading in the wrong direction and has yet to reach the bottom of its decline.

Villeneuve went on to argue that Red Bull is no longer the team it once was, claiming it has lost much of the identity and strength that made it so successful. The Canadian pointed out that many of the key figures who helped build the team's foundations have now departed, leaving Verstappen as the last remaining pillar of an organisation that has undergone significant change.

As Red Bull continues its push to close the gap to its rivals, Verstappen spent time at the team's Milton Keynes headquarters this week ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman is expected to play an active role in preparations for the Red Bull Ring, with discussions likely centred around the latest developments being introduced to the RB22.

The coming races are shaping up to be crucial for the Milton Keynes-based squad, as the effectiveness of its upgrade programme could prove decisive not only in the championship fight, but also in Verstappen's long-term future. If Red Bull fails to halt the momentum of Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren, speculation surrounding the Dutchman's next move is only likely to intensify.